During Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 Island creative health charity Independent Arts are asking; “What’s on your mind?”
The organisation, based on Newport High Street, uses the power of creativity to create a healthier, happier, more fulfilled and connected society on the Isle of Wight, and is asking residents to tell them, via post-it notes, what is on their minds! The post-it notes will become part of a large installation, filling their Creative Hub windows with the thoughts of Islanders.
Public engagement events
The installation will grow throughout May, including two public engagement events on 23rd May and 29th May from 10.30-11.30am, where passersby will be asked to fill out a post-it note and add to the growing window display.
As a pioneering creative healthy charity, Independent Arts delivers artistic programmes designed to address the diverse needs of the community, from improving emotional wellbeing to supporting physical health, at every stage of life.
Improving wellbeing and mental health of participants
Workshops such as SingAbout, a sociable singing group which meets all over the Island, and Move & Groove, a gentle creative dance and movement weekly workshop, have been shown to greatly improve the wellbeing and mental health of participants.
One Move & Groove participant said,
“It is a joy to come here, making new friends and improving my physical and mental health all at once.”
Boost your wellbeing
SingAbout groups, such as those at Freshwater Memorial Hall and East Cowes Town Hall, provide participants a space to sing with others, boost their wellbeing, and a vital social space every week.
One participant commented; “it is just so uplifting, I always go home in a better mood after singing and seeing my friends!”
Workshops
Those interested in joining an Independent Arts workshop can attend Move & Groove every Wednesday morning from 10.45 at the Creative Hub, or a SingAbout session at Freshwater Memorial Hall (10:15, every Monday), or East Cowes SingAbout (2:00pm, every Thursday).
For more information on these groups, or the many other workshops the charity offers, you can find out more on the website.
News shared by Sarah on behalf of Independent Arts. Ed
