Christie, 46, volunteers her time to help others at art-therapy sessions, held each week at Centrepieces, Hall Place, Bexley.
Tell us about your volunteering roles
I’m an artist myself and I first trained in Sculpture 25 years ago – now I use my skills to tutor others at the Centerpieces project.
The idea behind the group is to support people through mental illness by using Art Therapy. Art Therapy can be used to de-stress, reflect and calm the mind. It’s uplifting! We also organise exhibitions and workshops to promote the artwork produced by group members. Between 6-12 people attend every week.
How often do you volunteer?
The sessions are on a drop-in basis, the sculpture group is held on Mondays, and we are soon going to be introducing Still Life Drawing on Fridays too. I can be found at Centrepieces almost every day. An added benefit to me is that, inbetween volunteering, I can use the studio time for my own projects if I want to.
What do you find most rewarding about being a volunteer?
It’s a friendly group – I have found that by giving other people support, they have become happier and their confidence has grown. As the weeks go by, group members slowly reduce their negative thinking and start to respond positively. Their self-esteem grows over time and to see that change in people is so rewarding. My own mental health has also improved as a result of my volunteering; by helping people through their problems, it has helped me with mine!
Do you have any advice for someone who’s thinking of volunteering?
Volunteering brings benefits that you perhaps would not immediately imagine. I have learnt a lot about myself through giving up my time to help others, and I really would recommend it to anyone.