Atwal, Ravinder

As an artist, teacher and a trainee adolescent art therapist, I have collaboratively worked with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Through this experience I’ve realised art has an extremely effective way to communicate with people. I particularly enjoy working with the most vulnerable children and young people, as I have clear memories of the difficulties I’ve experienced throughout my childhood/adolescence and the therapeutic effects art had on my life. I have the experience forming close and effective relationships from a wide range of multicultural backgrounds, especially those affected by poor health, exclusions from education, crime and those with challenging patterns of behaviour. I’ve worked through issues that effect people and addressed these within a wide range of creative activities. It gave them a far greater and deeper understanding of themselves. I encourage service users to take responsibility for their thought and actions. Many of my students developed confidence through the arts, which enabled them to eventually find suitable courses or other career opportunities. At present I work as an Art Teacher/ Therapist for a charity called Community – Links. I teach and facilitate creative workshops and provide art therapy for young people excluded from mainstream schools and those with special needs. I deal with all areas of the teaching role: lesson plans, setting and marking class work, homework and exams, writing reports, managing behaviour, preparing for inspections, parents evenings, staff duties/ meetings and forming good relationships between pupils, staff and parents. Recently, I have developed the art therapy provisions for the charity. I am in the process of seeing 5 clients (Adolescents) a week for therapy. I am applying for a grant of £10,000 for arranging two major therapeutic art/ nature projects in Oct ’09. Last year I had arranged an Intergenerational and Reminiscence project, where I encouraged my students engage in various creative activities such as cooking, gardening, artwork and befriending the Elderly in our community. I’d organised five different elderly organisations in Newham to participate with my students. I also fundraised for the whole programme of activities. My aim was to help the young people to adapt to their changing emotions in terms of their cognitive skills, self-esteem and sense of identity. Thus it helped with forms of self-expression, enhance concentration, commitment, and confidence and promote conversation between the two generations. I also promoted diversity and respect of other cultural backgrounds together through this project. I have a natural ability to bring together marginalised groups in the community who experience discrimination and prejudice. We also had very successful Exhibitions, at the Elderly Resource Centre and at the Old Stratford Town Hall. I have organised and delivered many art workshops for the young people, offenders, elderly in care homes and adults with mental health issues. I create a supportive environment for the service users so that they can share any issues that may arise whilst making great artwork. The work is usually exhibited for the public viewing and publicity is always a must. My aim is to provide positive mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the service users. Due to the difficulties they may have experienced in their lives, the art sessions gave them a sense of achievement, thus increasing their self-esteem and motivation. I also arrange reminiscence work, which requires handling various objects to help trigger memories and encourage communication between the young and old within the community. I believe in sharing knowledge and gaining respect for each other through contact. My role as a Volunteer Co-ordinator/ Manager was to help people with severe mental health difficulties (those under the Care Programme Approach) to volunteer in a wide range of settings, thereby increasing their confidence, skills, social networks and employability. I have developed good working relationships with all Mental Health teams in Newham, Probation, Rehabilitation and Recovery teams, Newham Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and other mental health and voluntary organisations. I held various outreach sessions, art workshops and offered support throughout the person’s time as a volunteer. In 2005, I gave 3 hours a week at Upney Hospital as a volunteer artist to encourage elderly patients to be involved in creative activities such as drawing, painting, crafts, poetry and needlework, whilst listening to soothing music in the background. I realised how vital these sessions were for their wellbeing. It certainly had a positive impact on their physical and mental health. I am passionate about the benefits of using the Arts within the Health sector. I have gained good leadership skills from planning through to budgeting, writing successful funding applications, marketing, organising exhibitions/ projects. I have exhibited my own art work at many venues from a local café to the V&A I have a consistently calm and reflective nature in pressure situations. I am an enthusiastic and determined person. I operate well both independently and as a team member. I am an excellent role model and I feel I can make a positive contribution, to the service users and encourage them to explore, learn and create.

Contact details
Mrs  Ravinder  Atwal
78 Dawson Avenue
Barking
Essex
IG119QQ
02085946935
ranju_atwal@yahoo.co.uk
www.ravindersartworld.com

Primary Art Form
Visual Arts and Designer Makers

Other Artform categories
Installation
Painter / 2D
Photographer
Textiles
Visual Arts