East Sussex community projects launched to tackle lockdown strain

East Sussex County Council has commissioned the Everyday Creativity programme which is being managed by Lewes-based arts charity Culture Shift.

Each project is being led by different creative organisations with the aim of looking at public health and wellbeing beyond Covid by engaging with creative individuals and organisations whose work has been affected by the pandemic.

Projects will run from March to June.

One of the initiatives is focused on people who have become unemployed or furloughed by offering them free artist-led activity sessions including creative writing, photography and life coaching.

Julia Roberts, co-director of Culture Shift, said, “These free workshops are a brilliant opportunity for people to overcome anxiety, re-focus and be inspired at a time that is extremely challenging for seeking employment.

“We have worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Work and Pensions to make sure that these activities are useful and productive as well as being relaxing and fun.”

The other four projects are focused on:

• Personal assistants supporting people in the local community

• Former rough sleepers now in temporary accommodation in Hastings and Eastbourne

• Care home residents and their families across the county

• Young people

Councillor Rupert Simmons, lead cabinet member for economy at East Sussex County Council, said, “We’re delighted that our teams from Public Health and East Sussex Libraries are working with the East Sussex cultural sector to support sections of the population who are finding Covid restrictions particularly difficult.

“We’re pleased that over and above the positive impact this will have on the mental health of the groups we work with directly, we will also be able to share wider resources through the library service and commission local creative freelancers to deliver the work.”

To find out more and get involved in any of these projects, contact Catherine Orbach or Julia Roberts at [email protected]