Rethink Parliament programme launched

Rethink Parliament is an exciting programme run by Parliamentary Outreach in partnership with Rethink and Disability Arts Online. The programme will engage people affected by severe mental illness with the work and relevance of Parliament. Mental health service users and carers from Rethink will be working with international artist Rachel Gadsden in a total of 16 art workshops in England between November 2009 and July 2010.

The art workshops will explore the themes of engaging with Parliament and ‘finding your own voice’. Rethink Parliament is especially designed to be delivered in a fun, non-judgemental environment, giving participants a chance to develop and expand skills through the visual arts. The portraits produced by participants in the programme will become part of a digital exhibition available to view on the Parliamentary Outreach, Rethink and Disability Arts Online websites.

Rethink Parliament will be appearing at the following venues:

• 9-10 November 2009: The British Legion Hall, Gladstone Road, Ware, SG12 0AG
• 1-2 February 2010: Bridport Community Services, 5 Downes Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3JR
• 3-4 February 2010: Kingswood Resource Centre, 54 Moravian Road, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, BS15 8ND
• 8-9 March 2010: Station Grove, 28 Scarisbrick Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0TU
• 10-11 March 2010: University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
• 5-6 April 2010: Rethink National Offices, 15th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP
• 12-13 April 2010: The Hollies, 1 Barton Court Road, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 6NN
• 14-15 April 2010: Coopers Hill Community Centre, Bracknell, RG12 7QS
• 26-27 April 2010: Leek Social Enterprise, Ball Haye Cottage, Fowlchurch Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6AT
• 4-5 May 2010: Rotherham Crisis Accommodation, Cedar House, 40 Moorgate Road, Rotherham, South Yorks, S60 2AW
• 6-7 May 2010: Cumberland House, 176 Eyre Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 4QZ
• 17-18 May 2010: Derby City Community Service, Suite 2.9 and 2.10, Southgate Business Centre, Normanton Road, Derby, DE23 6UQ
• 19-20 May 2010: Amber Valley, Slack Lane, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3HF
• 27-28 May 2010: Rethink, Wallace House. Oat Street. Evesham. Worcestershire. WR11 4PJ
• 8-9 June 2010: Rethink, 52 Magdalen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 4AQ
• 14-15 June 2010: Rethink National Offices, 15th Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7T

For more information about the Rethink Parliament programme, please contact Rebecca Fawcett, Cultural Programme Manager for Parliamentary Outreach, at fawcettr@parliament.uk