Aims

Mind Art Warrington is a Community Interest Group.

We are using different forms of art to challenge the stigma around mental health.

Empowering individuals to have a voice about mental illness.

The project will promote local mental health services to service users and the wider community across Warrington.

 

Mind Art Warrington is there to encourage service users and people who work within mental health support services to share their experiences of mental illness by cooperating on projects. These will focus around a specific mental illness allowing people to challenge stigma and share their life journey...

This will be done within the community through exhibition and workshops where necessary. We will use art, poetry, photography, music, graffiti art and through the power of film and social media allowing people to express emotion and feelings and understanding of mental illness within a safe environment.

 

Mind Art Warrington is aiming to create a Wellbeing Café within the community to support people with mental illness.

The Café will be a safe environment for people to talk and share their experiences with others whilst helping them to find coping mechanisms that work for themselves.

The café will be facilitated by volunteers who have experience of mental illness either in a professional or personal capacity.

We aim to build confidence by using art based activities, board games and therapies. 

By promoting working together users will support each other, learning new skills and obtain confidence thus allowing them to develop as individuals enabling them to volunteer within the café gaining experience that they will use in everyday life.

We will also be encouraging different groups within the community to work within the café that will help people to relax, develop and participate for instance music groups and choirs.

 

Powers     

In furtherance of the objects, the group may exercise the following powers:

To raise funds, borrow money and invite and receive contributions.

To buy, take on lease or exchange any equipment necessary for the achievement of the aims.

To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the aims, and to exchange information and advice with them. These organisation can have a mental health focus but this is not compulsory we will use organisations that are co-opted for their expertise needed or access to groups.

To recruit volunteers to further the aims of the organisation

To do all such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the aims.

Any Exhibitions done on behalf of users where their work will be displayed prior consent will be obtained.

 

Membership

Membership of Mind Art Warrington shall be open to but not inclusive of:

Service users, non-service users plus partner agencies benefiting from the services and activities of this group and resident in the area of Warrington.

Individuals who volunteer to help the organisation and operation of the group. 

Membership shall operate on an equal opportunities basis.

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Management Committee

A Management Committee consisting of not less than 3 and not more than 10 members will be elected annually at the AGM. The management committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, and officers as it wishes. The quorum for management committee meetings shall be 3.

The Management Committee can co-opt members to fill vacancies or to bring new expertise into the group up to a maximum of 5.

The Management Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of any service or activities of the group, and shall report back to open meetings of the group.

 

Meetings

An AGM (Annual General Meeting) will be held by Mind Art Warrington for all members to attend to elect the Management Committee and agree policy foe the next year.

Open Meetings will be held quarterly for all members of the Group, these meetings will also be open to members of the public, whether or not they are members of the group.

 

Finance

A bank account is to be maintained in the name of Mind Art Warrington 

Accurate financial records will be kept of all income and expenditure. Annual accounts will be prepared, independently examined and presented to the AGM.

 

Changes

Changes to this constitution can be made at a meeting of the group, provided that all members have received at least 10 days notice of the change and that the change is agreed by at least 3 of the people attending and voting at the meeting.

 

Dissolution

If the Group is wound up, any money or equipment remaining shall be given to a local charity or voluntary organisation with similar aims.