A space for you

One in four people experience difficulties affecting their mental health at some point in their lives. The stigma surrounding mental health can be damaging and isolating.

In response, SPACE is intended as a celebration. Curated and hosted by mental health practitioner, Steph Walker, SPACE is a nurturing neutral space – a space that is shaped by the people that occupy it. SPACE was born out of a desire to support and safeguard audience members attending Declaration, Art with Heart’s award-winning one-woman show, which explored Sarah Emmott’s experience of seeking diagnosis for adult ADHD.

It is a space full of autonomy; a space for anyone, everyone, to simply be in. A space where people can come as they are and leave when they like and can engage or not with any elements they choose. It is somewhere people can take time to take care of themselves.

Between 2015 and 2019, SPACE mobile wellbeing toured to diverse settings across the UK: appearing in theatre dressing rooms; the corners of bars, cafes, libraries, town halls; on a patch of grass in a supported housing complex; on a nature reserve; in Santa’s Grotto.

Theatre venues up & down the UK (2015-2017)

SPACE travelled the country from London to Barnard Castle, Hartlepool to Saltburn-on-Sea, offering a grounding and engaging space for post-theatre audiences alongside Art with Heart’s Declaration…

Inviting a welcome breathing space: a place to settle, to talk, to interact with installations or simply to relax, listen to music & have a cup of tea; SPACE eased the transition between the heightened emotion of the show and re-entering the outside world – as well as providing a supportive refuge for anyone who needed it during the performance.

The response was unprecedented, with large numbers of the audience spending over an hour in SPACE – unwinding, connecting, creating, growing and taking time together. Across two tours of Declaration 1,528 people made use of SPACE.

Everywhere we travelled, audience members fed back that SPACE was just what they needed and asked if they could have more of it, “It is the sort of place I didn’t realise I needed until I got here.”

So, in 2017, SPACE transitioned and expanded…

On the road in Greater Manchester (2017-2019)

In 2017 SPACE left its familiar home in the theatre and ventured out into new spaces, new buildings, to engage with new people in a wide range of settings.

Over the next 2 years we made over 20 outings, visiting each of the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester: spending quality time with over 700 residents and working to inspire awareness, growth and connection within wellbeing and self-care.

However, with the onset of COVID-19 early in 2020, SPACE found itself unexpectedly packed up into suitcases, gathering dust.

Which led to……

Space Online

When the pandemic hit, it was clear that our mobile wellbeing room wouldn’t be touring for a while. So Steph worked with Lisa Mattocks to create a small space online where we could share a little of what SPACE is about with you. Steph compiled an archive of local resource packs, created a list of things to do from home and even made an online version of our lucky dip.

Click here to visit Space Online

“An extraordinary indication of the connections and dialogues theatre could help forge, if only it put real effort into looking after its audience.”

Maddy Costa, Exeunt

“I feel so relaxed, I had such a lovely time, I feel refreshed.”

Attendee

“Things like this are really helpful and I didn’t know I needed this as much as I did.”

Attendee

“I really needed this. Thank you so much for making it free.”

Attendee

“It’s well relaxing in here.”

Young attendee

“We need a space like this during our exams.”

Young attendee

“Your voice is so reassuring and calm – it reminds me of being home.”

Visually impaired attendee

“You’ve really helped introduce the idea of wellbeing and thinking about how to care for yourself to the women – we feel privileged to have you here.”

MissPlaces Group Leader

A pot of coloured pencils sits on a table. A woman sits at the table with a mug in her hand.
A visitor to our wellbeing room sits at a table and writes. Our host Steph Walker leans on the table and observes
Chelsea adds a handwritten note to a collection of others displayed on a noticeboard.
A noticeboard has the question What Do I Need pinned to the top. A collection of handwritten responses are pegged to the board.
A sign is taped to a window that reads Grow Your Own.
A collection of notes attached to lollipop sticks are standing inside paper cups. A hand adds another note to the collection.
A small vintage suitcase lies open on a ledge. Inside are lots of brown paper luggage tags, and a printed sign that reads Lucky Dip.

Credits

With generous support from the GMCA, SPACE visited all 10 regions of Greater Manchester.

SPACE is curated and hosted by mental health practitioner Steph Walker (the Founder & Lead Practitioner of Take Care – Eco Wellbeing). Steph employs a comprehensive, integrated approach to health and wellbeing. Steph’s practice is holistic, relaxed, open, flexible and friendly.