Julie Ward

Durham-based writer, Julie Ward, has been exploring the positive effects that creative writing and linked image-making can have on unemployed people with mental health problems. Positive Words is a partnership with the Pioneering Care Centre, a purpose-built one-stop healthy living centre supporting disadvantaged people to improve their health and well-being. Julie’s presentation looked at ways in which group work can pave the way for individuals to gain confidence and develop their own writing. The project has also involved visual art with a digital artist working with the clients to explore the use of visual imagery to support the written work.

To read the final report download it here Report in PDF format.

Julie Ward works as a poet, playwright, storyteller and short-story writer. Julie is a founding member of the creative collective Jack Drum Arts with whom she develops cross artform performance and media projects. Over the past 22 years she has run writing projects for a wide range of health-related organisations both in the UK and abroad. She has been a writer in residence for Age Concern, English Nature, the Year of Reading and Hull and East Riding Health Authority for whom she is currently developing text for permanent inscription/exhibition as part of a flagship health centre development. She ran a previous LAPIDUS pilot project exploring emotional well-being and young people in 2008. Julie is an experienced trainer and her work with people with learning disabilities forms the core of an article and CPD briefing commissioned by NAWE.

www.nawe.co.uk

Members of the ‘Positive Words’ creative writing group were announced as winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Sedgefield Borough Learning Celebration event earlier this year. The eight-week course, which took place at the Pioneering Care Centre, was part of a pilot scheme that was rolled out nationally to explore how words and images can be used to express an individual’s health and wellbeing. The group, who were supported by local author and member of Lapidus Julie Ward, had never explored creative writing before. In addition to their award, the group even published a book of poetry titled ‘Positive Words, Spreading the Word on Writing and Health’. Several members of the group had also attended the Pioneering Care Centre’s ‘Positive Steps’ programme, which aims to build people’s confidence and knowledge through a range of interview skills, CV and healthy lifestyles workshops, whilst introducing them to volunteering, training or employment opportunities. If you would like more information about the ‘Positive Step’s’ programme or the Pioneering Care Centre please contact 01325 321 234 or visit www.pcp.uk.net

Photo includes Janet Crawford, Eve Hayward, Jean Armstrong, Vivienne Savino and Linda Davison receiving their awards from Agnes Armstrong, the former Leader of Sedgefield Borough Council.