Poetry in motion as festival kicks off in job centres
Job hunters across Renfrewshire have been getting creative as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.
As the festival gets into full swing, poets and photographers will be displaying their talent at job centres in Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone.
Wordsmiths at Johnstone revealed their work during a poetry recital this week with all those taking part having found themselves out of work after suffering with mental health conditions.
Nora Sheridan, from Renfrew Job Centre Plus, said: “There was an uplifting start to the day for our colleagues in Johnstone as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival celebrating‘My Time - Renfrewshire’- an exhibition of poems inspired by voluntary-led creative groups that meet and make locally.
“The poets are people who are currently or have been in receipt of benefit due to mental health problems.
“They read out their poems to colleagues in Johnstone and there was excellent feedback from both participants and staff.”
In Paisley, they are taking a more visual approach, as job hunters get behind the camera to show off their skills.
Nora added:“There is also new 10 week photographic group called Peer Focus for people in recovery and we will be displaying some of the glossy photographs the group has produced.”
A similar project involving job seekers at Renfrew Job Centre Plus is also running, with a High Street display helping to showcase the work of those taking part.
“There will be a display called Photo Voice which has been created by people with alcohol addictions.
“This piece will displayed in the main window of Renfrew Job Centre Plus, so that it can be seen from the High Street,”Nora went on.
More information on the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, which runs throughout May, can be found at : www.mhfestival.com