WELCOME TO COOLTAN ARTS E-BULLETIN MAY 2011

Events take place at CoolTan Arts Unit B 237 Walworth Rd SE171RL unless otherwise stated.
www.cooltanarts.org.uk www.afunnyfarm.org.uk info@cooltanarts.org.uk
Tel: 020 7701 2696. Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-5pm.
Twitter: @cooltan4 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cooltanarts

Free Workshops for Southwark Residents *Some places remaining - Sign up now*
Now with an extra workshop in Photoshop, from Mon 6 June 11am – 1pm, Visual Arts Painting, from
Thurs 12 May 4pm – 6pm, Portrait Drawing from Tues 17 May 3pm – 5pm. (More info below)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS

Mon 16 May 4pm – 5.30pm: New trips and exhibitions group meeting.
Tue 17 May 3pm – 4.30pm: Community Advocacy Meeting - Health Q & A
Sat 21 May, 12noon at Tate Modern: Largactyl Shuffle: May Day Walk
Fri 3 June: Deadline for Food for Mood submissions
Thu 9 and Fri 10 June: Mental Health First Aid Training
Sat 11 June, 1pm - 5pm at CoolTan Arts: Mad Hatters Tea Party and Open Day
Sat 18 June, 12midnight at Tate Modern: Midnight Largactyl Shuffle Walk
Sat 15 October, 11.30am at Maudsley Hospital: World Mental Health Day Sponsored Walk

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED.

CoolTan Arts is working hard to make up for cuts - we have lost 1/3 of our funding.
A very BIG thank you to everyone who donated money last month in response to our appeal. All donations are
very gratefully received, and will go directly to support our workshops. Any support we receive is very
important during these difficult times.
Here is what one participant says about CoolTan Arts: “I was quite isolated for 14 years and CoolTan have
provided a means to overcome that. I now have at least one good friend and am in touch with lots more
people. There's no way I would have got to work in my current role in a creative environment if I hadn't had
CoolTan on my CV.”
£1 pays for a cup of coffee, to start a conversation over in our kitchen. Donating £5
can buy art materials for one person in a workshop. £120 will pay for an art
workshop for an un-funded participant for one month - so all donations are very
gratefully received.

RECENT NEWS
Welcome to Susan McNally
We have a new member of staff – Susan McNally joined CoolTan Arts as Largactyl Shuffle Development
Manager. Come say hello to her in the office, email her on susan@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 77012696 to
find out more about her role or with any ideas about the Largactyl Shuffle Project.

Southwark Civic Awards

CoolTan Arts and our volunteers Richard and Maki won Southwark Civic Awards.
The Southwark Civic Association Award Scheme recognises those that make a significant contribution to the
life of the borough. We are excited that we have been offered these awards, and that our work and the
achievements of our participants and volunteers have been recognised. Congratulations to all involved!

Food For Mood - Deadline for recipes 3 June

The CoolTan Arts Food For Mood cookbook will shortly be going into production. We still have space for a few
more recipes and short articles, and the deadline for submissions is Fri 3 June.
We’d like to get a recipe that really means something to you, so please include a couple of sentences about
why you like it, or what memories are attached to it, or what it does for your mood – and confirm that you’re
happy for your name to be printed with it. It doesn’t have to be fancy: we’ve got everything from goulash to
cheese on toast! Just make sure that you list all the ingredients and then describe the method in the
traditional recipe book format (1, 2, 3...). For the articles, we’re looking at all sorts of aspects of cooking,
eating, sharing food – even shopping. Can you give us a short piece about a particular cultural tradition in
food? Do you want to write something about feast days, family meals, cooking for large groups, creative
cooking, or shopping in markets?
The ideal length is 100-400 words, and the tone can be personal or inspirational: if you have an idea you want
to discuss, email Elizabeth@cooltanarts.org.uk – or just send a submission. You can also get in contact on
paper via the CoolTan offices, but then please make sure to include your contact details. Remember, the
deadline is June 3rd, so get writing...
UPCOMING EVENTS
CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle: May Day Walk
Sat 21 May 2011, 12noon; Meet at Tate Modern
Another exciting guided Largactyl Shuffle walk with CoolTan Arts. Celebrate and
discover the origins of May Day in a fun way. We'll be exploring the origins of May
Day, the Maypole, and the history of Mayday in Southwark, and also look into the
political importance of Mayday with an anarchist/communist insight.
We invite participants to dress up for May Day celebrations, as Green Men, pagans
in garlands, May Kings or Queens, or anything else that will help us in welcoming
the return of spring.
We are joined by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who will perform a blessing,
marking IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) at the
Cross Bones Cemetery.
The walk will conclude with a finale including Maypole dancing and other festivities in Camberwell Green.
Come along and add to the discussion and exploration, share your thoughts and ideas, enjoy the company of
others and have fun. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water. The walk is accessible to
wheelchair users and people with disabilities.
The walk starts at 12noon at the Tate Modern and finishes at Camberwell Green. Call CoolTan Arts on
07985658443 if you cannot find the group of walkers on the day. The walk is free but voluntary donations will
be appreciated.

Wednesday 11 May 2011 - Hardest Hit March

On Wednesday 11 May thousands of disabled people, their families and supporters from all over the country
will come together to protest with one voice outside the Houses of Parliament and make their feelings known
about the impact of spending cuts on disabled people.
The day of protest is organised by UKDPC and major disability organisations and will send a strong and
powerful message to the Government and you’re invited to join us. For further details & a full lobby pack click
here.
The march will begin on Victoria Embankment between Horseguards Avenue and Bridge Street. Please
assemble at this point at 11.30. There will be a rally on Victoria Embankment with speeches between 12 and
12.30 before the march sets off. The march will then begin at 12.30, followed by a lobby expected to take
place in Westminster Hall and Methodist Central Hall and to run between 13.30 and 17.30.
CoolTan Arts will organise a group of participants and volunteers to join the march, if you want to join, please
email Rosie on rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk or call us on 020 77012696 for more details and the meeting point.

WORKSHOPS FOR ALL

Free Workshops for Southwark Residents! *sign up now*
We have a short programme of free arts and multimedia workshops open to all Southwark residents aged 19
and over. Workshops are taught by professional artists and tuition is free for one workshop of 10 hours (five 2-
hour sessions). It's a great opportunity to enhance your creative skills or have a go at a new art form.
Sign up now! Have fun, meet new people, gain new skills!

Workshops and times:

Visual Arts / Painting (2): Thursday 12 May – 2 June, 4pm - 6pm
Portrait Drawing: Tuesday 17 May -14 June, 3pm - 5pm
Sewing Machine for Beginners: Wednesday 01 – 27 June, 6pm - 8pm
Digital photography: Thursday 02 – 29 June, 4pm - 6pm
Photoshop: Monday 06 June -04 July 2011, 11am -1pm
Participants need to commit to all five sessions and complete the course. Places for the workshops are
allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Interested? For more information, check CoolTan Arts’ website http://www.cooltanarts.org.uk,contact us on
020 7701 2696 or email clara@cooltanarts.org.uk. To book, please download the enrolment form from
CoolTan Arts’ website (also available at CoolTan Arts offices), and return the form to CoolTan Arts along with
a deposit of £10 (unemployed) or £20 (employed). Cheques need to be made payable to CoolTan Arts. The
deposit will be returned upon completion of the course and attendance of all 5 sessions.
Paper Art and Product-Making Group
Are you interested in doing something creative and helping raise money for CoolTan Arts at the same time?
Our product-making group design and make products to sell, such as paper, cards and small gifts. The group
is facilitated by professional artists and is free! Come and join us on Thursday mornings from 11am -1pm. To
book a place, call Rosie on 020 77012696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk

Theatre Creation Group

Would you like to get involved in our Theatre Creation group, develop improvising skills, and meet like minded
people? Workshops are every Monday night from 6pm-8pm, and cost £6 for 2 hours. To book a place, call
Rosie on 020 7701 2696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk.

REGULAR WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES

Join a regular workshop at CoolTan
Do you have a personal budget, access to direct payments or other funding? Do you want to get out of the
house, be creative, learn new skills? Come along to one of CoolTan’s workshops, meet people, learn new
skills, have fun, break out of isolation with like-minded people, take part in exhibitions and events. Check
out our services on www.shop4support.com/cooltanarts.
Please contact Rosie on 020 77012696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk for more details.

New Trips and Exhibitions group starting in May!

First meeting: Mon 16 May 4pm – 5.30pm
Do you enjoy going to plays and art exhibitions? Would you like to help others to do the same? Are you
interested in how exhibitions are organised and run at CoolTan Arts? Then this exciting new group is for you.
We will be researching free tickets, building links to other galleries and theatres, and going on trips. Also we
will be planning, advertising, organising and evaluating trips out to see exhibitions and plays. Eventually we
hope the group will be helping to plan, fundraise, set up and run exhibitions at CoolTan Arts, and other
venues. A chance to learn the whole process of putting on an exhibition – and what happens afterwards.
Everybody welcome, there are lots of varied tasks, something for everyone!
Contact asia@cooltanarts.org.uk, or clara@cooltanarts.org.uk, ring our number, or come into the office to let
Clara know you’d like to join the group. See you there!

Filmmaking/Podcasting project about Personalisation *New project*

Fridays, 11am-1pm at CoolTan Arts
Would you like to be a part of a unique and exciting art project aiming to explore the process any individual
needs to go through to access a personal budget?
Are you interested in filmmaking, want to meet new people, learn new skills?
CoolTan has a new Filmmaking project about personalisation! Personalisation is a major shift in the way care
and support is provided and it will affect all of us. Get involved and join the workshop on Fridays 11am-1pm at
CoolTan Arts. Interested? Please e-mail Asia on asia@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 701 2696.

Community Advocacy Meeting and Health Q & A on Tuesday 17 May 3pm - 4.30pm
This month we’ll be joined by the People’s Republic of Southwark for a Health Q&A with guest speakers.
Come along, meet like-minded people, join the debate, get your voice heard and discuss what’s happening in
mental health and disability services both locally and nationally.
More updates are available from Rosie Agnew on rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 77012696. We look
forward to seeing you!

Self-Advocacy Training Skills Programme - May & early June 2011

Self-advocacy training enables people to gain a stronger voice for situations where they might
not be listened to, be discriminated against or find barriers to accessing information or
services.
Wednesday 4 May, 11am.
Anti-discrimination ‘standing and gaining ground’: Disability rights and the Equality Act.
With Nick Clarke, Disability Law Service
Thursday 19 May, 2pm
Personalisation: Access to Personal budgets from social services.
With Denise Hill, VoiceAbility
Wednesday 25 May, 11am [repeated Thursday 23 June, 2pm]
Independent Mental Health Act Advocacy (IMHA)/IMCA: Legal advocacy - your rights.
With Cambridge House IMHA Advocates
Thursday 2 June, 2pm
Care Plans (CPA), Support plans and Advance Directives.
With Kirsty Giles & Staying Well Services team, SLaM.
Wednesday 9 June, 11am
Your Rights, the Mental Health Act, and current practices, including Community Treatment Orders (CTO)
With Robert Lepper, SLaM Mental Health Act Advisor
In addition to these workshops, the programmes include additional skills training sessions and
support opportunities – please get in touch for more details, booking forms, and fuller schedules:
Drop into CoolTan Arts, phone, email or write & ask for
Phil Ruthen, Advocacy Training Coordinator:  phil@cooltanarts.org.uk or info@cooltanarts.org.uk
 020 7701 2696  Mobile 0798 565 8443 www.cooltanarts.org.uk

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Why volunteer? – Need help getting back into work, want to give back to the community
Volunteers do a wonderful job and CoolTan couldn’t exist without the work they do. Volunteering at CoolTan
Arts can help you gain confidence and new skills, get work experience, make new friends.
Volunteer opportunities are available every day. If you would like to help us, please speak to Asia at CoolTan,
contact her on 020 7701 2696, email volunteers@cooltanarts.org.uk or check the website
http://cooltanarts.org.uk/category/voluntary-position/ for more details.

Walk leaders and stewards needed!

We have our Midnight Walk on 19th June and are looking for volunteers to help on this exciting walk, get
involved with the Largactyl Shuffle group and join the walk leaders as stewards, leading people safely over
streets etc. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in training, learn new skills, meet people and have fun.
If you are interested, please contact Asia on asia@cooltanarts.org.uk or call her on 020 77012696.

Training opportunity: Mental Health First Aid

CoolTan Arts has organised a 2-day Mental Health First Aid Training on Thu 9 and Fri 10 June for CoolTan
volunteers, walk leader and stewards and staff. Places are limited! If you are interested in attending, please
contact Asia on asia@cooltanarts.org.uk or call her on 020 77012696.

Calling all graphic designers!

Do you have experience of book design, or similar? The Food For Mood project is looking for a volunteer to
help finalise the page layout for the CoolTan cookbook, and typeset the material ready for printing. We’re
looking for someone who is happy to work collaboratively, bringing together diverse visual and textual
elements in a professional quality cookbook. Evening and weekend availability is fine. If you’re interested,
please contact Elizabeth@cooltanarts.org.uk for more details.

Services for Health and Social Care Organisations, mental health practitioners, GPs, social
workers, key workers…
CoolTan Arts can work with GPs and other health professionals to meet the social care needs of their clients.
We are very keen to meet you and your teams and tell you more about the services CoolTan Arts offers.
If you are a community mental health practitioner and you would like to refer clients, please contact us on 020
77012696 or email referrals@cooltanarts.org.uk.
If you are interested in finding out more about us and how we can work with your organisation, or want a
CoolTan representative at your team meetings to give an introduction to CoolTan, please contact us on 020
77012696 or email rosie@cooltanarts.org.uk.

Due to the funding cuts, CoolTan Arts has lost a third of its annual income.
We do all we can to mitigiate this but we need your support so CoolTan Arts can
continue to provide our much-needed services. Can you help?

Last, but not least, a big thanks to our donors, funders, supports, and to all the people who give their time and
energy to CoolTan Arts and make what we do possible.
CoolTan Arts believes mental wellbeing is enhanced by the power of creativity.
We are proud to have as Patrons: Maggi Hambling, Sokari Douglas Camp, Ali Smith, Clare Allan and Rosemary Shrager
Unit B 237 Walworth Rd London SE17 1RL T: 0207 701 2696 M: 0798 565 8443
W: www.cooltanarts.org.uk E: info@cooltanarts.org.uk Twitter: @cooltan4 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cooltanarts
CoolTan Arts Registered charity number 1064231 Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales reg. 3244552