New ‘Create to Motivate’ classes come to Droitwich Spa

A new and exciting arts project is coming to Droitwich Spa this month to help boost the confidence of people who want to lose weight.

Running every Thursday at 7pm to 8.30pm from 27 September, ‘Create to Motivate’ is a free ten-week project including different visual arts workshops designed to support a weight loss plan and build a healthier lifestyle.

Held at The Old Library on Ombersley Street East, the classes are aimed at people who want to lose weight but lack the self-esteem to do so or for people that want to maintain their weight and boost their confidence.

Many may well ask how the arts can help with losing weight, but there are many research studies done on how the arts can be a tool to improve well-being.

One such of these is the Creative Health Inquiry Report written in 2017 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing (1). It notes that a study done on arts activities in the community demonstrated that 82% of people enjoyed greater well-being as a result.

Equally a paper by Gordon Cochrane from The College of Family Physicians in Canada (2) states: “We need treatments that include strategies to… enhance the sense of self-worth, and develop self-efficacy so that overweight patients can become the agents of change in their pursuit of well being.”

Therefore we hope that through this arts course people will improve their confidence and self-esteem which will in turn support  them to go on to make lifestyle changes to lose or maintain their weight.

Jenny Davis, Arts Development Officer at Wychavon District Council, said: “It’s brilliant that we are running this ground breaking project where arts are being used to help boost people’s confidence. I’m excited to see it get going. We did a similar project in Evesham which went really well so I’m hoping for the same in Droitwich Spa.”

For more information and to book contact Jenny Davis 01386 565396 or jenny.davis@wychavon.gov.uk