Harlesden Library, Brent - Tuesday Art Group - 10am - 1pm.

A unique service, for people in the Borough experiencing Mental Health problems. It is provided by Brent Council Community Networks Mental Health Service in Association with CNWL NHS Trust and the Brent Library Service.

Traditionally, art has always had a positive role to play in aiding people with Mental Health problems gain confidence and work towards independence. The difference here being that the Library is a very public space. People recovering from Mental Health problems were almost always supported away from the general community and such illness was seen as problematic and antisocial. Most often people just need support, encouragment, time and understanding while they recover. Enabling people to funcion and gain confidence in a Library seems a good solution.The Library traditionally has been a quiet reflective place for us all over the years. A place that we grew to trust and where people go for information, advice and with a range of resources for study in ones own time without any pressures. When recovering from mental health problems, pressure is the last thing that people need.

Our move to the Library was part of a Borough initiative to encourage users of the service to make use of already existing public services open to the general public and in this way to achive intergration, recovery and build confidence again in the real community which will lead to more independence and autonomy for users.

The group has now been running since August at the Library and is building an identity for itself. The general public are very supportive and understanding. Often people come and talk to the users about their work and this is really supportive and encouraging. The staff at Harlesden Library have been amazing. They are supportive, kind, patient and always helpful and understanding.

As well as Art, we use the Library's Internet enabled Computers to teach Digital Art, Graphics and general Web skills. People in the group are encouraged to access all the forms of information and other services provided by the library. Building these skills and feeling confortable with using such a public resource can only be positive.

News:

Harlesden Library has won a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund to realise a plan which will transform the service it provides.
Full story here.

Want to know more about Learning in Brent Libraries?
Brent's Community Network talks to the Librarie;s Learning Manager here.

Brent Council Magazine featured an article
on our work in their January 2008 edition.