Whippet Up is a Community Interest Company (CIC) formed by artists and community workers. It uses art and creativity as a way of working with people to improve wellbeing within individuals and communities.
They run weekly wellbeing and creativity sessions across South Tees where they co-produce the art pieces that you see at festivals, parades and events across the region. The co-production starts in these sessions, members of the groups work on ideas together and help to draw up plans that change, develop and come together as ideas for bids and proposals. It’s a fantastic creative process - doodles turn into designs, models and prototypes.
These arts events and festivals are what make Whippet Up wellbeing sessions dynamic. Each event provides joint planning, building, and performing opportunities that are built into every wellbeing and creativity session they run. It’s a great way of linking people into art, science, and culture, and people can be involved as little or as much as they want in the final event
The group is regularly involved in events such as Stockton Riverside Festival, Middlesbrough Mela, Saltburn Festival of Light, Redcar Christmas Lights Switch On and Illumination Parade and lots more.
But who are the sessions for and how do people get involved?
Whippet up is an inclusive group so has people with social care needs and also people who are participants and volunteers.
Carol Burnham, a Director at Whippet Up explains: “We have a fantastic group of people who help identify people who come to our sessions. This referral network includes people working in NHS services, social care, mental health, and across the voluntary sector. The support we get from the Social Prescribing teams in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough is increasingly important. Social Prescribing Link Workers find people who have turned to their GP because they may be stressed, lonely or isolated. We provide a route out from Primary Care into creative community groups where people learn new skills, make new friends, and get involved in arts projects. It changes lives.
“The way people get immersed in our arts commissions is joyous, we see the impact it has on wellbeing and confidence as people get stuck into designing and building. With no prior artistic experience needed. Deadlines for each commission drive the sessions and each new project links people into community events and festivals. Our service helps to ‘change the focus’ for people; anxieties about personal health and wellbeing are replaced with excitement about deadlines and there is a shared pride when we deliver each commission.”
Anyone referred to the group through a needs assessment receives full support both prior to joining and throughout the sessions. A comprehensive risk assessment is conducted, and the team is thoroughly briefed on any specific needs to ensure they are properly addressed. This support is continuously monitored during their time in the group.
Session venues and timings
Redcar & Cleveland Sessions:
Every Monday - Mighty Mondays Art, Creativity and Wellbeing 11am to 3pm at
Kirkleatham Museum, Bellamy Pavilion, bring a sandwich and stay with us over
lunch time.
Every Thursday - Wellbeing and Creativity at Saltburn Community Hall – 1pm
to 4pm.
Middlesbrough Sessions
Every Thursday – Art and Wellbeing at the Dorman Museum all welcome from
10am to 12.30.
Carol goes on to say: “We’re keen to spread the word and reach even more people who can benefit from our support. We have a vibrant mix of participants and volunteers, including elderly members, people living with dementia, those with mental health challenges, people experiencing social anxiety or isolation and individuals with learning disabilities. We encourage professionals to refer anyone who might benefit. For people who have assessed needs there is the possibility to have Whippet Up sessions added to their care plan and be funded by their local authority (particularly Redcar &Cleveland Borough Council). But anyone is welcome to join and can make voluntary contributions to the running of the group sessions.
“We welcome people coming for a visit to any session, and that includes potential new participants, family members, advocates, students and professionals.”
Upcoming events that the groups are currently working towards
• Eid Fusion Festival in Stockton on 13th July, they will be presenting Jurassic Fantastic
• Stockton International Riverside Festival 1 - 3 August, they have been commissioned to
create ‘Trike and the Mechanics’ a brand-new procession piece for the grand parade.
And there’s many more festivals and projects in the pipeline!
Get in Touch
If you have not visited a Whippet Up session, and would like to see what they do, please pop into any of their weekly sessions, you can just go for a look, join in, or have a cuppa.
To find out more visit the website WhippetUp or email info@whippetup.org.uk
