Bridport Mind Fest

Last year, when I heard about Bridport Mind Fest, I knew I wanted to be involved. The idea behind it was 5 days of community workshops and events to get the town talking about Mental health, to raise awareness, to partake in things that can make them feel better and to break down the stigma. Having recently realised how important it was for me to connect with others, use my creativity, and use my own experience of mental illness for something positive, this was a campaign I fully believed in, and it was happening in the town I grew up.

For anyone who does't know - Bridport is a small seaside town in Dorset. If you've seen Broadchurch then you've seen the beach. That's West Bay and that's where I spent a great deal of my childhood. Its a lovely place, although growing up here was a very difficult time for me, for lots of different reasons. There is lots associated with this town that I find difficult. But in Bridport there is also a wonderful sense of community, creative spirit, openness and authenticity which I love. 

Last year, I became heavily involved with the festival. I was passionate about it and wanted to help. I was able to contribute good ideas, write the website, help out with social media and even somehow, embarrassingly and against my better judgement, ended up appearing in the promotional video and editing it together. I was glad to help out, but despite lots of people coming along, I somehow felt a bit disheartened by the end that I didn't feel we had really made an impact on any young people who might be struggling with their mental health. This is something I have taken forward as an opportunity to grow with the festival this year. 

This year, I am now working full-time so have been less able to get involved with the planning of the festival. Instead, I have booked a few days off work so that I can really partake in the festival and get involved with the workshops. I plan to do this for my own mental health, to get new ideas, be creative, and to reconnect. I have booked myself in to a lot of things over the 5 days, and plan to blog about the different things I learn. 

I am also helping out this year by running my own workshop! 



I have been busy preparing for an Indian-inspired outdoor community art work in support of Bridport Mind Fest. This is happening next weekend (Saturday)outside the Arts Centre, and is based on Rangoli -  the activity I did a few months ago with the cub scouts. This time I've been making stencils and have been dying up other materials that we can use alongside the chalk. 

There is a lot about this workshop happening so publicly that makes me very nervous. But its also so exciting that I will be able to share something that I think can make people feel really good. It's also amazing that I feel confident to do this, which is something I could never have pictured myself doing a few years ago. I hope I can learn from others during the workshop, can inspire people to take part and can also use it for myself to connect to the community and to the environment. 

I've been very busy creating signs and dying up lots of rice! I really hope that people turn up, and I especially hope to see people of all ages coming along to give it a go. 



Bridport Mind Fest is such a wonderful idea. I truly believe that every town should have something like this -  maybe just one day a year where we focus on our mental health, and do something to make us feel good as a community. This year the festival is focussing heavily on the 5 ways to wellbeing - these are:

KEEP LEARNING
CONNECT
BE ACTIVE
GIVE
and
TAKE NOTICE.


I have worked hard to focus on these 5 elements and hope that my workshops encourages all 5 of these things. The rice is looking colourful and the chalks have arrived!










 Bridport Mind Fest. is happening 5th-10th October.

Please pop along on Saturday 6th, any time between 10-2 to take part in a beautiful Indian inspired outdoor artwork. You can drop in and learn about it, watch or take part. Its up to you if you want to take part for 5 minutes or for the whole thing. All ages welcome. 


Check out the other great things in the program too!