Service users and carers from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust, have worked together with staff to create 23 unique pieces of artwork, based around three themes: ‘what inspires me’, ‘what recovery means to me’ and ‘what identity means to me’.

The original idea of the Co-create project was initiated by service user and Midsomer Norton resident, Carolyn Trippick, and developed through her local service user forum in Bath & North East Somerset. The project’s aim was to collaboratively create artwork to enrich the working environment at the Trust’s Headquarters in Bath, whilst building relationships and understanding between staff, service users and carers.

In total, twelve staff, including those from clinical and corporate teams, worked with nine service users and two carers. Each service user or carer was matched with a member of staff to develop individual pieces of artwork in a variety of mediums. Each pair made contact to introduce themselves and discuss their chosen theme, prior to developing their artwork. They then kept in touch with each other during the creative process, which was followed by an opportunity to meet in person to share their artwork with each other and discuss their thoughts and views.

Carolyn says: “Working together around the theme of ‘what recovery means to me’ was an insightful experience for both of us. Sharing our artwork and individual statements was a very personal experience; an experience which, at first, felt like vulnerability, but in sharing, we made a real human connection. Our meeting was very warm and comforting, and it was such a sense of opening to share our unique pieces and be able to talk about them. It’s wonderful how art can do this, share thoughts and feelings and show how alike we all are.

“Our artwork showed many similarities; that recovery is a journey, a process that isn’t linear, a process of reflection, inner strength and growth. Even the colours of our artwork complement each other!

“Taking part in this project has truly shown that regardless of role, status or any other label, at the heart of it all, ‘we are all human’. Whether a service user, carer or member of staff, we all have vulnerabilities, but through communicating with care and compassion, we can make genuine meaningful connections.”

The Co-create project enabled service users and carers to have fun, feel valued and give back to AWP, supporting their recovery through meaningful activity. It also encouraged and stimulated conversations with staff, building connections, and creating a sense of mutual understanding and accomplishment.

Lee Rawlings, Local Involvement Co-ordinator for AWP in Bath and North East Somerset, said: “Working alongside service users and carers on an entirely equal level is what made this project so enjoyable and inspiring. When I saw all the completed work, I felt so proud, and can’t wait to see the artwork on the walls of our Headquarters.”

Before it was placed on the walls, the artwork went on display at the Gallery Room at St James’ Wine Vaults, Bath, consisting of a range of mediums; photography, acrylics, watercolours, textiles, mixed media, poetry, lino printing, digital images and text.

Carolyn Trippick, AWP service user and part of the Co-create project team, said: “Initiating and helping develop the original concept, it was really important to me that AWP staff were able to collaboratively create artwork that provided a real human connection to service users and carers, and built a real sense of pride.

“Once the artwork is in place at NHS House, Bath, we hope it will continue to stimulate ongoing conversations within the work environment; creating a mutual understanding between staff, service users and carers, and therefore enhancing quality of care.”