We wanted to provide you with an update on BCAT’s approach to addressing the COVID-19 outbreak and the steps we are taking to support your health and wellbeing. Last Thursday, UK Government Ministers decided that the UK would be moving out of the ‘contain’ phase of the Government action plan on COVID-19 and into the ‘delay’ phase. This meant that all individuals with even mild symptoms should self-isolate for seven days. Details on the symptoms to look out for and on self-isolation can be found on the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. Many of you will have also seen the Prime Minister’s announcement this week to close schools to all but the most vulnerable children and those of key workers, from Friday. This will have implications for many of you that need to look after your children.
We know that this is an unsettling time for us all and the country is being asked to change behaviour on a scale not seen in our lifetimes. Like us, many of you will no doubt be worried about protecting and caring for loved ones, yourselves and the community.
As the situation changes daily, we want to make sensible decisions to support staff and to help to protect the wider public. The Government have made it clear that social distancing should be followed and that face to face meetings should be avoided. BCAT’s provision of services can be likened to that of schools in several respects, and face to face meetings are part and parcel of therapy. In line with government guidelines, from today (20 March), we have taken the difficult decision for BCAT to cease all physical therapy sessions and workshops for the time being.
We know that this is an unsettling time for us all and the country is being asked to change behaviour on a scale not seen in our lifetimes. Like us, many of you will no doubt be worried about protecting and caring for loved ones, yourselves and the community.
As the situation changes daily, we want to make sensible decisions to support staff and to help to protect the wider public. The Government have made it clear that social distancing should be followed and that face to face meetings should be avoided. BCAT’s provision of services can be likened to that of schools in several respects, and face to face meetings are part and parcel of therapy. In line with government guidelines, from today (20 March), we have taken the difficult decision for BCAT to cease all physical therapy sessions and workshops for the time being.
The Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies (BCAT) is a registered charity which was set up in 1993 to provide an accessible arts therapies, and more recently an arts in health service throughout the Midlands. We assist children and adults who are experiencing mental health, physical, behavioural or emotional issues with arts therapies, and we also work closely with our community partners across Birmingham to support the health and wellbeing of citizens using art, dance, drama, music and play.
The centre, a former Cadbury building, is unique in that it brings together art, drama, music, dance movement and play therapy.
BCAT are passionate about people and how arts therapies can be applied to aid mental health and physical issues, and how communities can also benefit therapeutically from arts in health intervention.
Being a pioneer and leader in establishing arts therapies as an alternative and complimentary intervention has been a goal for our charity for the past 25 years. We put people and communities in front of profit and are able to offer a number of subsidised services thanks to our generous funders and available grants.
The centre, a former Cadbury building, is unique in that it brings together art, drama, music, dance movement and play therapy.
BCAT are passionate about people and how arts therapies can be applied to aid mental health and physical issues, and how communities can also benefit therapeutically from arts in health intervention.
Being a pioneer and leader in establishing arts therapies as an alternative and complimentary intervention has been a goal for our charity for the past 25 years. We put people and communities in front of profit and are able to offer a number of subsidised services thanks to our generous funders and available grants.
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FREE FUNDED PROJECTS FOR 2020/21
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BCAT in the community
Check out the posters below to find out about local free arts in health workshops near you!
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BCAT's quarterly magazine contains all the latest BCAT news and features on arts therapy and
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Donate to BCAT
Shop and donate to BCAT!
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Text BCAT £1 to 70070 to support our POUND FOR ARTS campaign. You can donate up to £10.
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Make a donation, start your own fundraising. join our monthly BCAT Friends programme.
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Recycle your ink cartridges and raise money for BCAT
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Thank you to our supporters
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Research
Latest news on arts therapies and arts in health Art therapy and its effects on the Brain and Body Image Relationship, Art therapy and Body Image Connecting Mind and Body through DMT Body drama: the utilisation of drama therapy for the exploration and treatment of negative body image Dramatherapy for eating disorder treatment Music therapy enhances eating disorder treatments Supporting arts in health in libraries - evaluating BCAT's impact Can mindfulness Improve well-being in the workplace? Why should we fund arts therapy |
BCAT diary of events
October 28 Autism Central Conference |
Volunteer Development Programme
We are very lucky here at BCAT to work with fantastic volunteers from all walks of life. Our open meetings take place not he first Wednesday of every month, 5pm-6pm at our offices except January, July and August . If you would like to join our Volunteer Development Programme (VDP) please contact richardmole@bcat.info “It was not only the children who benefited from the Arts Therapies sessions! Their parents also participated and gained considerable new insight into their children’s behaviours and how strategies might be developed to facilitate greater understanding between themselves and their children. We hope that BCAT can continue to find sufficient funding to continue to work with us”. |
