We met Anne* in early 2024. Anne went on to complete not one but three of our programmes. Here, she shares her Kaleido Arts journey with us.

Anne’s Story

I’ve been lucky enough to be part of three of the Kaleido Arts programmes over a period of 12 months: Drumming for Wellbeing, Crafting for Wellbeing and Drama for Wellbeing.  They have played such a huge part in my recovery journey that it’s actually quite difficult to put into words just how much I have benefited from them.

I left hospital in January 2024, following a devastating mental breakdown. I was in a pretty fragile state and knew that if I was not to go backwards, I needed to find something therapeutic to do with my time.  Having previously met Katherine Blessan through work, I approached her first.  Thankfully there were spaces on the drumming course and so it was that I first began to experience the magic of Kaleido Arts.

“I’m not exactly sure how they do it but I’m so grateful that they do.”

I say ‘magic’ to sum up the wonderful way that these courses have contributed to my recovery.  I really feel that their contribution has been out of all proportion to the length of time spent in each workshop and this is something that I attribute to the warmth, expertise and genuine care of all the exceptional leaders and assistants who choose the course content and run them in such a wonderful way. I’m not exactly sure how they do it but I’m so grateful that they do.  I found the workshops really friendly and enjoyable and, just as importantly, after each and every one, I felt that I had learnt something significant to help me onwards. They gave me a powerful sense that I was “getting somewhere” and this gave me a hopeful excitement to see what the next step of my journey would be. In terms of therapy, I don’t think it gets much better than that.

“The effects are long-lasting.”

The themes that were chosen week by week on the courses were just amazing.  To give three examples, the session on the craft course entitled  “Broken but not rubbish” did so much to help me heal and gain strength.  The session on “mourning” in the drumming course had a profoundly beneficial effect on me, helping me to better understand and cope with the loss that I had experienced, while the workshop on “Releasing” which was part of the drama course really did help me to let go of things which, through the course, I came to realise were holding me back.

“They have done a lot to set me up for a brighter future.”

It’s been almost three months since I finished the last course, but I am realising that the effects are long-lasting.  I feel that the workshops were the perfect rehab for me during those 12 months. In addition – and I don’t say this lightly, even though it may sound a little grand – I also feel they have done a lot to set me up for a brighter future. Still now I draw on all the things I learnt and I can feel that this is helping me to stay well.  Still now I enjoy all the happy memories of all three courses, as well as the continuing friendships with some of the participants which has been a really positive surprise outcome.

I just want to say a massive thank you to Kaleido Arts. You truly have made the difference for me.

*name changed