Services users at the Langford Centre in Bexhill on Sea demonstrated their artistic talents once again to win recognition and a prestigious national award.
Individuals within the hospital worked together to create several pieces of artwork, including a felt representation called ‘Life Journey’, to be entered into the 2015 Koestler Awards.
The picture, which depicted a number of different games, together with a multi-coloured face, brought to life the phrase ‘Life – no matter how good it is, is also a series of losses and we are all players’ and received a Bronze Award following the judging process.
The Koestler Trust is the UK’s best-known prison arts charity. It has been awarding, exhibiting and selling artworks by offenders, detainees and secure patients for more than 50 years.
Its awards receive more than 8,000 entries a year – inspiring offenders to take part in the arts, work for achievement and transform their lives.
The national exhibition attracts 20,000 visitors – showing the public the talent and potential of offenders and people in secure settings. A number of service users from the Langford Centre visited the exhibition, which served to further encourage their own artistic endeavours.
The Langford Centre provides a comprehensive range of treatments tailored to individual needs, for patients in both Low secure, Locked rehabilitation and Residential environments.
Rebecca Ponchard, occupational therapist at the Langford Centre, said: “Art can offer an outlet for often complex and confusing emotions, which service users may not necessarily be able to express verbally. It also fosters self-awareness and confidence.
“We are proud of the excellent work submitted by all the individuals and delighted that Life Journey received a Bronze Award.”
