Group of people sitting around a table making crafts at a community event, with a purple and green wall in the background that says 'Morrisons Make Good Things Happen for our local community.'

Creating Connections

A Creative Wellbeing Project supported by the Falkirk Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

June 2024 – April 2025
125 participants • 28 weekly sessions • Final town centre exhibition

Two ceramic art sculptures resembling pizza on a wooden surface.
A painted cardboard box with a red, yellow, and white design and the word "CARAMEL" written on it in red letters, placed next to a printed sign about a creative project exhibit.

About the Project

Creating Connections (originally Creative Together) brought people across Falkirk together through weekly creative sessions designed to improve mental health, reduce isolation, and build confidence.

The project supported adults living with:

  • Long-term health conditions

  • Disabilities or additional support needs

  • Diagnosed mental illness

  • Anxiety, low mood, and social isolation

Most participants were aged 60+, though the project also welcomed disabled younger adults, including LGBTQIA participants. Family members often used the sessions as respite time, knowing their relatives were in a safe, inclusive, supported environment.

What We Delivered

We offered regular 6-week blocks of arts and crafts workshops from June 2024 to April 2025. While the original target was 150 people, it quickly became clear that participants needed continuity, safety, and routine — not one-off sessions.

So we adapted.
By working in smaller groups over longer periods, the project created space for real connection, personal growth, and community-building. In total, 125 people took part.

Participants immersed themselves in painting, printmaking, clay, collage, and mixed media, supported by Artlink Central facilitators Joanne and Lewis, who brought warmth, encouragement, and a trauma-informed approach.

Impact on Participants

Growing Confidence

Many arrived believing they “weren’t creative” or “were rubbish at art.” Watching that change was one of the most powerful outcomes.

“I can’t believe I made that. I’m actually really proud.”
“Given me more confidence in things I didn’t think I could do.”
“The classes are slowly building up my confidence and ease my mind to relax.”

Improved Mental Wellbeing

People spoke openly about anxiety, low mood, and stress. The sessions became a safe place to slow down, breathe, and reconnect.

“It lifted my mood greatly… by the end I felt so much better.”
“Great therapy. I need this for my mental health.”
“A moment to myself… to forget about the world outside.”

One participant, who had been experiencing suicidal thoughts and found it difficult to leave the house, attended every week. Their progression was significant, and we supported them to transition to a partner art organisation for ongoing support.

Reduced Isolation and Stronger Community Connections

The project created a welcoming peer community that people looked forward to each week.

“Before the class I felt very isolated and lonely. Now I’ve met a lot of lovely new people.”
“Made me feel I belonged.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do when the sessions finish.”

Freedom to Explore

Our person-centred approach removed pressure and encouraged play, experimentation, and discovery.

“Everything was allowed… any idea was welcomed and amplified.”
“As a survivor of Encephalitis, I thought I’d never be able to do art… a life changer.”

A Celebration in Falkirk Town Centre

To mark the end of the project, we hosted an exhibition in Falkirk Town Centre showcasing all the artwork created throughout the year.

Participants were thrilled to invite family and friends — and proud to see their work recognised publicly.
The event drew support from the Provost, local councillors, Falkirk Delivers, and third sector partners. Many described the exhibition as a meaningful milestone that validated their achievements and encouraged them to keep creating.

Several participants are now engaged in creative work connected to the Falkirk Town Hall redevelopment, and some have even helped identify ideas for future funding to keep the project going.

Legacy and Ongoing Benefits

Creating Connections directly supported Outcome 4 of the Scottish Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy:

“Better equipped communities to support people’s mental health and wellbeing, with opportunities to connect with others.”

Its lasting impact includes:

  • Strong peer relationships built over many months

  • Improved confidence, routine, and emotional resilience

  • Continued engagement with local creative opportunities

  • Increased visibility of creative mental health support in Falkirk

  • A celebration that connected participants with civic leaders and the wider community

The project also contributed to the National Performance Framework, helping build healthier, more inclusive communities with fair access to creative support.

Why Weekly Blocks Mattered

One of our biggest learning points was that depth matters more than volume.
Many participants lived with high anxiety, significant loneliness, or long-term conditions that required predictable, safe, weekly contact.

The regular 6-week blocks offered:

  • A reliable routine

  • Time to build trust

  • Space for social connection

  • A creative practice that supported ongoing wellbeing

This model created truly meaningful change — far more than one-off engagement ever could.

Contact

If you’d like to learn more, support future programmes, or get involved in Falkirk, please contact:

Kevin Harrison
Artlink Central
Email: kevin@artlinkcentral.org

Close-up of a painted plaster bust sculpture of a man's head on a wooden surface, with people in the background in an indoor setting.
A wooden sideboard against a white wall decorated with four framed artwork pieces, with small decor items and a glass of wine on the sideboard.
People socializing in art gallery, some holding drinks, framed artwork on walls, front counter with decorative items, window view of street outside.
Three people standing in front of a banner at Artlink Central Scotland, two men and one woman. The man in the middle is wearing a suit with a ceremonial chain, the man on the left is in a checkered blazer and the woman on the right is wearing a Nirva
Children's drawing of a stone house with a large arched entrance, a green lawn, and a green house with pink curtains, a green door, a tree, and a flowerpot in the window.
A cake shaped like a dog's head, made with chocolate and other edible materials, with realistic details like ears, eyes, and nose.
Art gallery with framed colorful drawings on the wall and craft items displayed on a wooden cabinet in front.
People gathered in a gallery or event space, socializing around a buffet table with assorted snacks and fruits, some holding drinks, under indoor lighting.
Group of women socializing at an art event, standing near a banner that reads 'art ink central' and 'creative and inclusive arts for people and place'.
Collage of cut-out photographs, drawings, and patterned paper layered on a grid background, with a sticker of a lion and shield at the center.
Colorful framed artworks on a white wall, featuring a dolphin under a yellow sun, a clown face, and a group of balloons. A papier-mâché sculpture of a face with exaggerated features and a white hat with colorful pom-poms is on a wooden shelf, along w
Two ceramic art pieces resembling pies, one with a red heart in the center and the other with a chocolate topping, displayed on a wooden surface.
A chocolate cake shaped like a dog on a wooden table with a small card showing the number 29 and a red paw print. In the background, there is a potted cactus with pink flowers and some office furniture.
Decorative cake designed to resemble a woman's face with glasses, lipstick, and black hair, placed on a wooden surface.
Exterior of Falkirk Delivers storefront with black sign, glass doors, and two windows with displays, yellow flowers in black planters outside.