Testimonial to Hannah Ford

Reachout’s Arts Resource Worker, Hannah Ford, has sadly finished her contract and we have got a few words from her and our members to say just how much she meant to us.

Hannah’s Words

“During my time at Reachout I have benefited immensely from the training and opportunities given to me covering a vast selection of topics.

The Training budget I received paid for me to take three college courses at City of Glasgow College. I initially took a vintage accessories course and a metalwork jewellery course. In the vintage accessories course I learned dressmaking and pattern building skills. The jewellery course taught me how to make Bespoke silver pieces using skills like soldering and forming the metal. This is something I have wanted to learn for a long time, and enjoyed it so much I took the advanced follow up course thanks to the training budget.  The skills I learned one these courses are ones which I can use to hold workshops and further my career as an artist.

This budget also allowed me to have a year working with Craig Machan, Business Arts Consultant for Balado Arts. Craig supported me to develop a business plan for myself as an artist and showed me how to go about setting up my website, branding myself and valuing my work. This opportunity has been essential to me developing myself as an artist and I feel its set me up well and given me goals and directions to follow. I now have a good Idea of where I want to go with my career and how to go about getting there.

Other Training Opportunities I have had include ‘Mental Health First Aid’, ‘Inclusive Communication’, ‘Child Protection level 1’, ‘Introduction to Social Enterprise in the Creative Sector’ led by SENSCOT, and ‘Make a Splash’. These have helped me develop myself to be able to work with people, and more specifically people with ill mental health or disabilities. This will help to increase my employability and open up a wider range of job opportunities to me”.

Some words from 4 of our members

Recently I have really enjoyed how Hannah helped me make bangles, my niece was showing everyone. It’s good having someone in the base. It’s handy having someone to ask for help, someone to be there. Someone that you look on as a friend as you get to know them. I’ve started already to divulge my life. I didn’t feel like I was being watched. On trips away it was good having a member of staff to come away with us.

Good help and support. It’s nice for a young person to have a chance. If I felt intimidated by staff I wouldn’t cope well. Having someone in the base is someone to talk to for people who are vulnerable. It helps with paranoia to have someone who is familiar and friendly. I can get scared and unsure. I like familiar faces and continuity. On day trips it was good having a member of staff to take the responsibility as I get anxious.

it’s essential for new members. Before new members went straight into a strange environment. Having someone there eases you in and helps encourage you in a gentle way. I was frightened when I first came along as it was a strange place. Having someone there makes it less intimidating. Someone to encourage and bring out the skills of the individual which is very important.

It helped having a member become arts resource worker because they knew everyone socially, it was a friendly face. It’s nice having someone who hovers about and watches. There is no pressure and that is important for mental health. We need someone who is subtle and gentle.

I feel its beneficial to office staff. Before Lesley and Lynda were always having to come away from their work to find stuff.