Bread and Circuses

We had a very positive consultation event this morning - generating creative ideas from colleagues from a range of sectors about how Liverpool will celebrate this year's World Mental Health Day in October.

We gathered nearly 50 people including mental health service users, service providers, NHS commissioners and people from housing associations, advice agencies, youth organisations and grassroots arts organisations, amongst others, and they came up with so many ideas and offers of help that I'm rather dreading the task of typing them all up and sorting them into some sort of workable action plan - even whilst I'm excited about bringing the plans to fruition!

I'm particularly excited by the prospect of working with Freefall Circus company who are keen to run some circus workshops for groups of people - including older people - who've experienced mental distress, with a view to performing on Williamson Square on 10th October. Today's blip subject, Barry Welsh, is one of Freefall's creative directors. He's an artist, performer, choreographer and teacher of aerial circus skills and he spoke with a quiet passion about the ways in which his work helps him to maintain mental wellbeing.

It was a really energising morning, filled with conversation, laughter and performance poetry and rounded off with some extremely tasty sandwiches (and assorted crudités!) which were particularly hotly anticipated after they'd originally been delivered to the wrong address. They finally arrived about 20 minutes late... but they were worth the wait!

Have a great weekend everyone!