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Fantastic Journey

Suffolk Artlink evaluates Curious Minds, our creative and heritage social prescribing programme, using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and Most Significant Change.

The following personal story was generously shared by a participant as part of our Most Significant Change and is representative of the amazing creative journeys our brave and adventurous participants have taken through our programme.

Audio transcript of an interview with Pauline on 29/09/25

“I have always done arts and crafts and I heard about Curious Minds through Open Spaces. I have enjoyed every bit of it, and I am sorry we are finishing.

“I have enjoyed all the different things that we have done, and I learnt a new sewing technique called couching which I really enjoyed. I have done things here that I have never done before.

“When I come here, Alan can fall asleep if he wants too and he gets respite from me. I know we have support workers twice a week and Alan has his carer, but otherwise I go to groups and if Alan wants to fall asleep, as he often does, he can. So, that’s his respite.

“At the end of the day, we have carers around but when it comes down to it, Alan cares for me and I care for him. I know when we come to Curious Minds he thinks, “Oh, I can fall asleep now, Pauline is at the group, busy and safe and I can relax now”. This makes me very happy as I know how much he needs the respite.

“When I leave the group I feel really happy. I also know I can always add any other artwork I do at other groups into my Curious Minds folder.

“I’m looking forward to the legacy group too, I know some of the people who go to this.

“If I had to give this interview a title I’d call it ‘Fantastic Journey’.”

 

Jen Johnson, Curious Minds Programme Lead

“Pauline attends Curious Minds, Felixstowe with her husband Alan. Pauline is in her late 60s with anxiety and depression as well as a learning disability. Alan is also frail and receives social care support.

“Pauline is creative and really enjoys trying new techniques. She often absorbs herself in the process and finds this therapeutic in distracting her from her problems.

“Alan comes along to the sessions to just sit and watch Pauline. He is her support and encouragement and she will often ask for Alan to be present when she feels anxious.  Alan falls asleep in the sessions as Pauline states: “This is the only time he can really relax, as he knows I am safe and happy”.

“Over the last few months Pauline has experienced a housing eviction notice which has caused her mental health to decline. She has also been under ongoing medical care due to a severe skin infection. This has also affected Pauline’s mental health.

“Pauline is keen to continue her creative journey as she has developed friendships within the Curious Minds group and has also seen a significant benefit to her anxiety during the sessions.

“Pauline has been invited to join the Curious Minds legacy group and also the Brave Art group in Ipswich to continue her creative health journey.”