Lambeth mental health hospital shortlisted for art award

An arts initiative developed by service users at a mental health hospital for men has been shortlisted as a finalist in for the National Service User Awards 2022.

Cygnet Churchill, in Lambeth Road, was shortlisted for the awards, which are designed to celebrate service user-led initiatives in mental health, learning disability and autism services across the country.

Mural for Hope at Cygnet Churchill is a finalist in the ‘Recovery and the Arts’ category.

Cygnet Churchill is an inpatient mental health hospital for men and has four wards including an emergency acute admissions service and three high dependency inpatient rehabilitation services.

The mural was painted by service users from different wards at the hospital in a joint Art Therapy and Occupational Therapy group.

Cygnet Churchill’s Mural Group aimed to empower individuals through creating a collaborative mural and give them a sense of ‘ownership’ of the hospital in which they are currently living.

The theme was ‘hope’ and aimed to create a space to discuss the process of recovery.

Theo Bello, hospital manager at Cygnet Churchill, said it was wonderful that the Mural Group were being recognised for their efforts.

He added that is an opportunity to celebrate the excellent work that service users do and to recognise the lasting, positive impact this particular project has had on others.

“I am really proud that the Mural for Hope has been shortlisted,” he said. “It will give everybody involved a massive boost and help them to see the difference it has made to so many people.”

“Painting the mural helped with building social skills and team work but it was also a great opportunity for service users to share their experiences and become more resilient by working as a group, and being open to different perspectives.

“The lasting effect of this is that every time a service user passes the Mural wall or reads the poem, they have a sense of having an impact upon their environment and may get a little lift of hope.”

The awards are celebrating their 10th year and winners will be announced on September 14 in Nottingham.

Pictured top: Cygnet Churchill (Picture: Cygnet Health Care)