£150k Arts Award for Showcase Smoothie Mental Health Project

The Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) is pleased to announce it has been awarded over £150k of National Lottery funding through Arts Council England to develop a three year pilot study, which will use music and literature to help improve the mental health of young black men.

The innovative study called ‘Showcase Smoothie’ will help to develop individual talents and use the arts to improve the self-confidence and life skills of primarily young black men with mental health problems – as statistics suggest they are more likely to experience mental health inequalities and greater social exclusion.

LPT’s Chief Executive John Short said;

“It very unusual for  Arts Council England to award such a substantial sum to a health based project. We are delighted they have acknowledged the potential of this innovative approach to improving mental health care. It’s important we find new and imaginative ways to support and engage the diverse communities we serve.

“The Showcase Smoothie project is a really positive way for people to express their feelings and increase their self-esteem and confidence by using music and literature. It’s also a good way to challenge stigma and raise awareness of mental illness generally.”

A composer, film-maker and DJ are just some of the established artists and professionals who will provide guidance and support to participants on the project. Successful Jamaican poet and international performer Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, will lead the literature element of the study, helping people to express themselves and their experiences by using the written and spoken word.  Jean suffers from schizophrenia and uses her creative talents to write eloquently about her own experiences with mental illness.

Lydia Towsey, Arts Co-ordinator for LPT said

“We’re really excited about this project and we’re planning to launch Showcase Smoothie at a special event at The Y Theatre, Leicester, 6-9pm, February 1st, 2012.   Although applicants for the overall project may be male or female, we’re really keen to encourage young men of any cultural background to get involved,  particularly young black men.

“Participants will receive encouragement, support and professional artistic training in a safe environment to enable them to create several end of year showcases. These will be performed locally, and one will also have the opportunity to tour nationally with the highly acclaimed national literature agency, ‘renaissance one’. 

The three year pilot study will be researched and evaluated by the University Of Leicester School Of Psychology – who will measure the success of the model and its overall impact, to determine whether there is potential to widen this approach and commission new services.

For more information or to take part in the project please contact Project Manager Katherine Brown, beautyandutilityarts@hotmail.co.uk

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