Braemar Charitable Trust love the work of Arts for Health Community Trust - we sponsor the Braemar studio and fund the Waikato Hospital in house arts therapy programme. Trust Manager Paula Baker said "When Arts for Health applied to the Waikato COVID-19 fund to continue their wonderful work remotely, it was an easy decision for us to assist. As Arts for Health work predominantly with people with significant health issues, they aren't able to provide services at their base or through the community outreach programme at the hospital, until the alert levels are over. This means clients will not have the same levels of support or community interaction, as they did before".
The team at Arts for Health looked at ways to continue to run services remotely for those who had the ability to access online services. It was apparent however, that many clients were remotely based and therefore had limited access to telecommunications, so the solution was to provide one-to-one contact by phone, mail or email.
Arts for Health Manager Cass Hendry said "We realise COVID-19 will have an adverse effect on people similar to the emotional impact that the Christchurch earthquakes had. For this reason, we think that it is imperative that vulnerable and disadvantaged people have access to quality, professional support. Our goal is to ensure good mental health and well-being and that our online open studio service will give people an opportunity to meet and talk with their peers".
Arts for Health is planning to offer a series of six individual (2 hour) art therapy community sessions for children, older persons or people with health and well-being challenges and provide a safe space where people can gain a greater understanding of their emotional responses in a traumatic experience.
The Braemar Charitable Trust in partnership with Hamilton City Council and WEL Energy Trust, are very proud to be able to assist Arts for Health to enable this opportunity to be provided to the people of our community.
