About

Our History

Synergy Creative Community is a mental health peer-led community organisation based in Brighton, East Sussex. We started in 2009 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2015. We take a creative approach to well-being and mental health by running weekly sessions of art, music, creative writing, cookery and mindfulness meditation. Synergy has become a space to connect with others and share experiences.

Our projects are where we love getting creative every Tuesday 12-5.00pm throughout the year at West Hill Community Hall, Seven Dials Brighton. Our creative drop-in session has a feast of activities for all the senses, including a delicious healthy lunch from 1pm for £3. Click here for more details

“I enjoy the environment, it is a very safe environment. The lunch together I really enjoy. I particularly enjoy the art therapy in the afternoon. As for my confidence, it has helped me, so much so I have been able to help out in a local charity shop. Tuesdays are part of the highlight of my week, because of the safe environment and people are very welcoming.”

David

Our Approach

At the core of Synergy’s ethos are the concepts of individual freedom and collective support. By unlocking individuals’ potentials and working to their strengths, Synergy aims to empower members to manage their own recovery and support others in their recovery. Our peer approach means that people work together, sharing ideas and resources to support others through social connection and exchange: this is a strong feature of our group.

Through peer-support and building links within the community, we aim to break down barriers associated with mental ill-health. We believe in promoting a sense of individual and collective identity, confidence, strength and support.

At the heart our approach is the aim to create a non-judgemental, inclusive and safe space, for people to connect and share experiences of rediscovery, recovery and reintegration; providing a basis for open dialogue, communication and reflective healing. Synergy members design the activities to benefit our own recovery and to make improvements to our own well-being and mental health outcomes.

Through its outreach projects and public events programme, Synergy aims to build a more constructive community network of mental health awareness and action, and a co-productive approach to mental health recovery. The integrated community experience we provide allows for new friendships and relationships to develop, which is particularly valuable for people with experience of mental ill health as isolation and exclusion is common.

At Synergy Creative Community we are working towards the following outcomes:

  • Reduce stigma, isolation and inequalities for groups that may have difficulty accessing relevant support, empowering them in managing their own recovery and ongoing well-being, and helping to build emotional resilience, as well as teamwork, leadership and employability skills.
  • Promote good mental health and well-being awareness in the community environment, increasing social value and positively impacting community mental well-being.
  • Through its outreach projects and public involvement events programme, Synergy aims to build a more constructive community network of mental health awareness and action, and a co-productive approach to mental health recovery.

    Synergy is so unique. In a way it acts as a safety net for mini breakdowns…I was having a meltdown and was aware I was in a bad place. She held my hand and supported me…if I hadn’t been here and had you to support me I would have ended up in hospital.

    Julie