What difference can we make together?
This project is all about working out how Platt Hall and its collections can best serve the needs of our local neighbourhood, making it a better place to live and work. Everything we do is about learning how we can best make that happen, to inform the future development of the Hall.
But it's not just about the future. It's also about using this process to make a difference now, working together with what we've got in the moment. Here are some things people have said about the difference being part of the Platt Hall project has made to them so far.
But it's not just about the future. It's also about using this process to make a difference now, working together with what we've got in the moment. Here are some things people have said about the difference being part of the Platt Hall project has made to them so far.
It’s very important for people not to lose who they are and where they come from. The things I have learnt and the things I have made are part of my identity and I want to share this with the local community. Creativity and sharing of ideas and skills can improve our health and wellbeing. Making or creating something can make us happy and improve our confidence and when we are appreciated it gives us a lot of joy."
Women’s Voices, In the Windows: Embroidery is a Universal Language exhibition, 2023
The textile chats are a great opportunity for us to see and know what belongs to us in the city and how we can contribute to the names and knowledge – a chance to challenge what you store, keep and show, usually decided by white curators." |
I was not very well at the start of this, struggling with motivation. I didn’t like coming to the park but it’s grown on me. It's nice to have a reason to go again and it changes all the time. I have enjoyed moving outside. When I first started I was struggling with illness. It's so nice to be sitting here now comfortably and be able to express myself." |
I have been isolated – as a long-distance lorry driver – socially anxious and this was scary, but it’s been really helpful, being with people, looking at artefacts." |
We never share our lives, our pain, our loss, our stories. This was an opportunity to share stories together." |
The Platt Hall Garden Project has helped me a lot. Since covid I have spent 99% of my time alone in my home. It was the best day ever when I found the project." |
Many of our children are from families who have fled global wars, many children are Pupil Premium and many families are continually facing economic and social disadvantage. Cultural collaborations can bring tremendous therapeutic support and also cognitive and creative stretch and challenge to all children. We see engaging with local cultural partnerships as intrinsic to improving confidence, well- being, self- esteem, language communication, stability and widening experiences and aspirations. The team at Platt Hall have been brilliant in terms of working with us to provide a bespoke learning experience for the different year groups - to investigate and explore the building, ask searching questions about the space and collections, and also sketch and record feelings and opinions about the visits. One child recorded that visiting the Hall was, “the best day of her life”. Platt Hall is an incredible local gem which we would like as many children as possible to experience."
Heald Place Primary School, 2023
The garden provides serenity and an island of peace in a noisy urban area; The joy of seeing nature grow from seed to harvest is very fulfilling. It feels as if one is making a contribution in different ways which helps with connecting to place and local community." |
'This group has been amazing! It’s just so good and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without being able to come here every Monday. I feel so sorry for people who can’t access this kind of thing near them." |
There's value in seeing what people back in history, who were in a privileged position, found interesting and took from your country that's now displayed in museums. It can potentially make those communities feel part of what's going on now - the ability to say, yes, I'm connected with here. Look what was taken and brought here as being interesting. We've contributed to what's here. And so you must acknowledge that we've got a stake here."
Opening the Box collections exploration programme, 2022
I learn about the hall in my previous session that were recommended by my GP. I feel that the Hall is a good, safe place for the community and the way it's helping people of all walks of life is amazing. I'm so happy to be able to come to the Hall. Also, the Hall being in the park is such a bonus." |
Learning about the natural world was very enjoyable for me. I learned a lot of new vocabulary about the garden. I learned how to make compost. I has removed my loneliness. It got refreshment for my mind." |
Meeting lovely new people from different backgrounds. New languages, new conversations, deepening friendships with people I already knew. Learning from others and sharing my own experiences. Bringing seeds and cuttings to plant. Making the park interesting and inviting. Doing something really worthwhile on our doorstep. I love showing relatives and friends what we've done." There are people with different backgrounds, different life experiences, different family circumstances and this is good for me, beause I tend to live in a little shell...it's learning respect for other people's priorities" |
I really liked that you did the open call for local creatives to submit workshop ideas. The programme feels very grounded in the local area. I can't wait to see what the space becomes. I'd love for it to become a creative hub for people in the area and continue to help people find new ways to express creativity." It was time to stop and engage with other people in a different way. Looking at the objects brought up some powerful conversations and feelings. I felt a renewed passion for the power of art to make us think and see the world through someone else’s eyes. Also, about how we can all see art in such an individual way." |
I've seen people's vocabulary get better and better... also mine as well. My own language. And I'm learning the patience of being able to listen to someone who is trying to figure out how to say something and not get, like, impatient. I'd like to believe I'm becoming a better person through these conversations"
Collections Chat programme, 2021
For me, it’s been fantastic, the first time I've ever handled a museum piece. It’s a privilege, when do you get to do that? Being able to look, talk and get other people’s views. It’s brilliant. When we looked at the tennis dress, none of us were tennis players but it got us thinking about exercise, But it also made us think about how far women have come. The waist was tiny!" |
I think it’s brilliant. It’s lovely. I enjoy all of it. I didn’t think I’d enjoy art and learning about things. It’s not rigid, we’ve come together because of diabetes but it’s not just that. It’s broad, we can raise things in any direction we want and then come back. It’s centred but not rigid – the garden, the objects, the art, the walks. Pause moments on the walks with paintings to look at were great. Even if we didn’t like the painting, it was ok and got us talking about exercise and healthy eating." |
As a Practice, the Health and Art Project was a very new way of consulting, particularly from a Nursing perspective. As clinicians, we have set times for patient clinics and time is often short. On diagnosis, patients identified as being Pre-Diabetic, are signposted to the Nurse for an 'early intervention' appointment which covers explaining the diagnosis and discussing diet/lifestyle changes. This is a short appointment and it can be hard for patients to take everything in. Over the course of the project, we had 9 hours of direct contact with the group of patients which proved to be invaluable.
Patients were delighted to have time with clinicians to ask questions and have a more informal chat, outside of the restraints often felt during a routine review. This is also the same for me as a clinician. I felt I was able to really focus on one topic per session and being in that group environment allowed patients to learn from each other too.
Having Platt Hall provided a great space for patients to mingle, engage with the collection, and bond with each other (in a COVID safe manner). Platt Hall also provided a neutral base where patients had the opportunity to see clinicians in a non-clinical environment. Over the course of the 6 weeks, it allowed us to build a really good rapport with the group. Patients were incredibly engaged throughout, and it became clear that as time went on, the group gelled and became a support network for each other. As the sessions progressed, patients were growing in confidence and asking questions. This is a rarity during a routine review, predominately due to time.
With the support from Ruth and Liz at Platt Hall, we were able to run enjoyable, practical, and holistic sessions, focusing on not just blood results or medications. Each week's picks from the collection prompted valuable and important conversations amongst the group, relating to that session's topic. A fantastic example was looking at the tennis dress, opening up conversations on how we as a group like to keep active, and the health benefits this can bring. Another example was when discussing diet and portion control. We worked alongside a local ceramicist who helped us create bowls out of clay. The mould for these was designed based on a sensible portion-sized bowl that each member could take home to help manage carbohydrate portions. We built on this further the following session with an afternoon walking over to Platt Fields Market Garden to glaze the bowls and building on conversations about eating well, growing our own foods at home, and sharing recipe ideas. This since prompted some of the group to volunteer at the Platt Hall Garden and another to become part of the garden project at The Robert Darbishire Project.
The project was an overwhelmingly positive experience and is a format that has great potential to roll out across the practice for various health conditions. Seeing the patients grow and flourish in both confidence and knowledge, really highlighted the benefits of this form of consulting. I am very keen for this to run on a regular basis and to expand and focus on other health issues.
Laura Edgar: Practice Nurse, Robert Darbishire GP Practice, 2021
