About

To hold space: To be present for another person, without judgement. To listen.
 

Holding Space develops opportunities for people to improve their wellbeing through creative activities. Specialising in art, mental health, forest therapy and wellbeing provision. We develop projects with care, in a way that is supportive for participants. We meet people where they are at in their mental health journey.

 

We are a value led organisation and place an emphasis on being person-centered. This means we are non-judgmental, we listen, we support, we believe participants are experts, we center access, we are creative. We also commit to working sustainably in dialogue with our natural environment. 

 

We use art and creativity as a tool for supporting wellbeing and mental health. 

 

Holding Space is predominantly based in North Yorkshire and West Midlands but works UK wide.

What we do

We work in lots of ways including:

  • Social prescribing: Developing and hosting long term social prescribing projects where participants attend through referrals often from a GP or mental health practitioner. 

  • Forest Therapy: Group Forest Therapy based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, promoting a closer connection to nature, aimed at relaxation and stress reduction. 

  • Creative wellbeing: Shorter term projects focusing on art and creativity as a way to improve wellbeing. Some projects are process based focusing on workshops others work towards an end out such as a final artwork or commission.

  • Care settings: We work in care settings such as secure mental health facilities to develop highly tailored projects that are specific to the needs of the participants. 

  • Walking & nature projects: We design walking and nature projects that focus on how being within nature can improve wellbeing.

People

Holding Space is a small team, often working with freelancers to co-devise and facilitate projects. Here are some of our regular faces.

Amelia Hawk

Amelia is the founder of Holding Space. She is an artist and forest therapist. She is also trained to Level 3 in Counselling. Amelia specialises in supporting mental health through creativity. She draws upon various lived expiriences of supporting others including herself with poor mental health. Learn more...

Rajvir Bath

Rajvir is an integrative therapeutic counsellor working with different models including person-centred, psychodynamic.  She has experience supporting women and families experiencing domestic violence, leading projects within the Black Country, and has many years of experience working with young people. Learn more...

Thahmina Begum

Thahmina is an Interdisciplinary Artist-Researcher, poet and qualified and registered Art Psychotherapist (HCPC, BATT). Her work explores cultures, identities, belonging and British /Bangladeshi/Muslim Diaspora. Thahmina is passionate about making art accessible for all and promoting art for health and wellbeing. Learn more...

Anneka French

Anneka French is a writer, editor and curator. She works for art publishers Anomie and Hurtwood. She contributes to Art Quarterly, Burlington Contemporary, 1000 Words and Photomonitor. She also creates and produces workshops and event. Learn more...

Libby Scarlett

Libby is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer with a focus on value, power, truth and justice, particularly in relation to beings in precarious positions in society. In 2024 she set up Artist Future Labour Lab, researching and experimenting in new ways to approach artist labour. Learn more...