Issue 11: Continuing To Exist Despite The Cuts

I know, I know I say it every time, but I make no apologies, once again I am totally blown away by the talent on display in this issue, and it makes even more of an impact for me, having had the good fortune to have met so many of our artists during my Epic Walk, or should I say, not so Epic Limp. Anyway, more about that elsewhere.

As apart from the walk, there have been some important developments since our previous issue, and at long last, Reflections has now achieved charitable status, and we are currently developing systems which will enable people to make donations, and to be honest, it couldn’t come soon enough, as the cuts begin to have an even greater impact.

I have to say it frustrates the hell out of me that there is no central funding for the arts in health, despite the massive evidence base supporting its value. We have to continue to rely upon the dwindling amount of NHS Trusts who continue to have the foresight to recognise its value, and we truly are grateful to them.

It says it all when even the Department of Culture, Media and Sport direct us to Public Health, suffice it to say, I am not holding my breath.

Anyway, enough doom and gloom, hopefully one of the things our new charity will be able to do if our fundraising campaigns are successful, is to stage some art exhibitions so that we are able to showcase the incredible talents of the artists we regularly feature in this magazine and on our website breakthroughmhart.com such as Stephen Jackson, the Featured Artist in this issue. He is making his debut in Reflections, but I suspect we will see a lot more of him in the coming months. As usual, I wish I could win the Lottery and collect the work of so many of the artists who we feature – Yvonne Ford, whose work is shown on our front cover for the first time, and Martin Muir, are just two more artists whose work I would love to collect.

Finally, regular readers will know that I have previously spoken very highly of Ed Vaizey, the junior Arts and Culture Minister. I do hope that my judgement wasn’t misplaced, but I am beginning to wonder. As always please read my article in the excellent Mental Health Today, my blog on https://breakthroughmhart.com/walk-in-my-shoes/ and O.M.G. I’ve even become addicted to twitter

Have a great stress free and peaceful summer, oh, and please help us if you can.

Tony Russell - Editor

Issue 8: The Lots of New Artists and Big News Issue

I often think it’s a truly bittersweet experience putting each issue of Reflections together, and this eighth edition is no exception, sweet because it really is so inspiring looking at all the fantastic art that is submitted to us and to be able to give so many people a real lift by showcasing their creative talents to an ever widening audience, and bitter because we cannot possibly fit everything in, and this issue is a perfect example of the dilemmas we face.

Over the years we have grown to love the work of some particular artists who have featured regularly in this magazine, and we could so easily have filled this issue with their work, however, as it says on the front cover, there are lots of new artists in this edition who deserve the chance to see their work in print too.

Fortunately, thanks to the vision, support and belief shown by Mike Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS North West, we can still give everyone the opportunity to showcase their talents to a worldwide audience by featuring them on our website breakthroughmhart.com - beautifully designed by Roger Marlow of Health2Works who always helps us way above and beyond the call of duty, as does Darren Turner at Azure Printing.

This leads me onto the other part of this edition’s strap line the BIG NEWS issue. It is precisely because of the dilemmas we face and also because of my promise in the first issue of Reflections never to let this magazine fold again that I am going to undertake an Epic Fundraising walk which will begin next March. You can read all about it on our website.

Our other big news is the Government’s response both to our on line petition (please see our website) which ended so abruptly when the new Government came to power, and the answers to the questions we asked under the Freedom of Information Act, all of which you can read about later in this issue and draw your own conclusions.

For once in my life I am going to maintain a diplomatic silence except to say that the campaign continues, and I would like to thank all the members of the National Strategy Group for their invaluable input to our campaign – your support and efforts are both needed and much appreciated.

And finally, whilst I am thanking people, the stress and anxiety we face with constant worries about future funding for this magazine are at least kept to a bearable level, thanks to the faith and belief shown in us by our supporters working in the organisations listed below, who recognise the valuable role art has in aiding recovery, and maintaining well being.

Oh and by the way, one day we will have Positive Practice in Art in Health Awards if it’s the last thing I do, I will make that happen. In the meantime, please visit the Positive Practice in MH web site that we facilitate where excellent projects such as START in Manchester and START in Salford are featured.

Tony Russell - Editor

List of Supporters

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, NHS County Durham and Darlington, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Humber Mental Health NHS Teaching Trust, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust, Wolverhampton City PCT, NHS Barnsley, Manchester Health and Social Care NHS Trust.

Issue 7: The Slightly Reduced Issue

It’s a real shame that I seem to have to spend all my time talking about campaigning when I would much prefer to talk about art, and the fantastic talent that we are able to showcase both here in the magazine, and also on our website breakthroughmhart.com , but it’s a fact that if we don’t all do what we can to raise the profile of the arts in health up the agenda funding will continue to be cut, and opportunities limited still further for both individuals and organisations working in the field.

Unfortunately, we know this from personal experience with our funding support being reduced at an alarming rate, although ironically we are receiving more art than ever before, proving the need for both the magazine and the website to continue. Those organisations that are no longer supporting us say it is because of the cuts they are having to make across their services, which is all a bit of a mystery as the politicians are still saying that there will be no cuts to front line services...Oh well perhaps the new Government will put the arts and culture back up the agenda. Only time will tell.

Talking of which, since our last issue Ed Vaizey has now been made Arts and Culture Minister, which in our humble opinion can only be good for those of us working in the arts and health, as he seems to be a thoroughly good bloke who wants to work with ‘real people’.

Anyway, back to this issue, we always think that the most recent one is the best, and Issue 7 is no exception, although sadly because of the cuts we have had to reduce by four pages, nevertheless we welcome a number of new artists. Somebody once asked what is ‘good’ art, well we know from wandering around the TATE recently, much of the art we feature wouldn’t look out of place there. In our opinion, art is good if it evokes feeling and holds your attention, such as the picture that Dr Gillian Fairfield describes on page 18.

We are constantly aware at Breakthrough that our focus has been on the visual arts. However, we do fully intend at some stage, as soon as funding is available of staging some performing arts events, so if there is anyone out there, performers, poets, singers, comedians, musicians or backstage help who would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you.

We would like to thank all of you for continuing to send us your art, photography, poetry and good news stories in such increasing numbers – we now have over a hundred artists/ photographer and poets featured on our website. Sometimes I wish I could win the Lottery and make sure that we could showcase all of the fantastic talent that is out there, as well as buying all the pictures I like and exhibiting them in a gallery......

Tony Russell - Editor

Oh and by the way we are about to launch a brand new website in partnership with the NHS North West featuring positive practice from across the whole of the region from the NHS, local authorities and third sector. Anyone can nominate a service or project they think should be included whether they work in the service or use it. Please visit for further information.

Issue 6: The Cram Packed Full Issue

It’s fair to say that we had enough material for this issue within a few days of the last one being distributed. We long for the day when we have the funds to make Reflections a bi-monthly magazine instead of a quarterly one.

Thankfully in the meantime, we now have a fully functioning website (which is updated on a weekly basis) breakthroughmhart.com Which provides us an additional capability to showcase people’s creative talents, which has, and always will be our main priority, closely followed by our campaign to provide more resources for mental health generally, and more resources for the arts in mental health specifically, and to this end we have launched an on line petition at No 10 

We strongly urge you to spend a few minutes registering your support for this cause which you can do by going to the above link, and completing the details asked for, and then returning the email you will be sent asking if you confirm your support. It really will only take you a couple of minutes.

This is really important because a lack of names on this petition will of course have the reverse effect, and will tell the Government there is no strong demand for this. At the moment, whilst we are disappointed that at the time of writing we only have a few hundred signatories, we are very impressed by the amount of well known and respected figures in the field who are supporting the campaign.

Generally speaking, politicians do not impress me, and I have met many over the past fifteen years. In my humble opinion Alan Milburn was by far the best Secretary of State for Health that this country has ever had, but Angie and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ed Vaizey, and like Alan, this is a man with presence who we believe will have a major positive impact in the future. We had not intended to feature an interview in this issue, but we believe that Ed Vaizey is a man worth listening to, and if his party wins the election, we have no doubt that Ed will be a great Champion for Art in Health.

Sorry to repeat myself but remember, there will be a general election in the coming months, this is the time that MP’s are more likely to listen so please write to yours, and ACTIVELY SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN. Remember apathy is the big threat to our services, and we must not sit back while cuts are made.

The ARTS AID RECOVERY and ENHANCE OUR WELLBEING – make sure that the decision makers understand this...

Take care Tony Russell - Editor

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