PIPS Charity Project: The promotion of emotional wellbeing

PIPS charity, Belfast offers support services for people in suicidal crisis and those impacted by suicide including specialised support for young people bereaved through suicide and care services to help people engage successfully with long-term mental health care.This project, funded by the Garfield Weston Board, worked with PIPS Family Support Group in facilitated arts activities to create a permanent artwork for the charities building and design publications for wider dissemination about PIPS charity.PIPS Family Support Group was wonderful to work with. I would especially like to thank them all for their openness, kindness and their generosity in sharing their time and ideas. The textile artwork produced by the group clearly reflects their warm and welcoming spirit. The artwork depicts many variations of the tree symbol used by PIPS in its logo – a symbol of light and hope.Dissemination of PIPS activities to the wider community is of primary importance to the group, so as a group we felt it was important to develop a range of materials which could be used by PIPS. The postcards and smaller wallet-sized cards feature quotes from the Family Support Group members during the sessions with myself. The pamphlet features more focused information and key messages that the group wanted to tell. Special thanks also to Shelley Malcolmson who worked with me to get the designs ready for printing.