Participant A
Participant A attends our Breathing Space group at Tanio HQ in Betws. They are an older person (50+) with complex needs and long-term health conditions. They shared with us the benefits they have felt from attending weekly Breathing Space workshops:
‘Breathing Space has given me confidence that I lost and has helped me to get out of the house and meet new people. I would recommend it to everyone.’
‘I love Breathing Space and I don’t know what I would do without it. I have really enjoyed learning new things and doing crafts. I really loved the social side of the group too – going along every week when I was well and meeting new people and making new friends. I liked learning from the tutor too, she is so talented. I live on my own and I loved getting out of the house and meeting new people. I really enjoyed learning from our tutor and some of the others were a bit younger than me, so I really enjoyed the intergenerational side of the sessions. I have made lots of new friends and my daughter also started coming with me too, which has been nice. I would recommend it to everybody! It has helped me feel confident again.’
‘You don’t realise how important it is for us to come here every week. It makes a big difference.’
Participant B
Participant B, who is age 40+ and lives with mental health problems, has shared how attending weekly Breathing Space sessions at Tanio HQ in Betws has helped them cope with isolation and to manage personal difficulties:
‘It gets me out of the house and helps me deal with isolation. I have come every week since I started and find the group really supportive and I make new friends.’
‘This group has really helped pull me through after a very difficult personal situation at the beginning of last year – I don’t know what I would have done without it.’
‘I find it very relaxing and my mood always lifts. Like today I hadn’t been out the house this week until I came along and it made me feel much better. Creating the art has a very relaxing effect on me – it helps my brain slow down which I need sometimes.’
They shared that they were initially ‘a bit unsure’ about joining because they had ‘no confidence in art’, but that the workshops have helped them build their confidence to try new creative activities:
‘[The workshops are] informative, I try different things I wouldn’t have chance to do otherwise. It’s very friendly and enjoyable. The space is nice and staff are really supportive – I always feel like I can ask if I need help with anything. It’s very creative, I like making all the different things and the getting new skills.’
Since attending the weekly Breathing Space sessions, Participant B has also started volunteering during our events. They are a valuable person at each event they attend, proving themselves to be reliable, proactive, and always ready to help. They actively seek out and look for more ways to get involved, which reflects the growth in confidence achieved through Breathing Space.