Swallow Art Society

Swallow Art Society

SWALLOW has supported housing along with a network of support workers to help people with learning disabilities in their own homes across Somerset, enabling them to live full and enriched lives.  Our Base House teaches people everyday living skills (such as cleaning and socialising) in a realistic home environment.  This gives people with learning disabilities the self confidence and skills required to consider moving out of the family home, and it gives their home carers a valued break from their care.  We also run a range of activities for people with learning disabilities to encourage them to live healthy, sociable lives.  These activities range from art to cookery to football, with lots more in between.  We are a user-led organisation which means that, where possible, we respond to our members’ needs and wants.

Our most popular activities are our therapeutic art classes that we run in two different locations.  Many people with learning disabilities often lack the skills to communicate their feelings effectively and so art allows them to express themselves in a constructive and creative way.  We use a variety of media to create our art and every person chooses what materials they wish to use.
Caroline, one of our art tutors, says: “I love working with the SWALLOW members. Everyone is so enthusiastic and full of ideas of creative projects they would like to try”.

Another important benefit of our art groups is to see our members building friendships and breaking down the social isolation that many of our members suffer from.  We stage regular local exhibitions, and even showcase some of our work on Pinterest!
For more information about SWALLOW log onto www.swallowcharity.org or email [email protected].