Creative Workshop Volunteers

Evolving Canvases is a creative organisation working in mental health, addiction recovery, and community wellbeing. Our work is rooted in lived experience and focuses on using art and photography as tools for reflection, confidence building, emotional expression, and personal growth. We work in partnership with organisations such as The Matthew Project and similar charities that support people in recovery, people experiencing mental health challenges, and people who may be socially isolated or rebuilding their lives.

One of our core programmes is MindScapes, a series of gentle, accessible creative workshops. These sessions are not about artistic ability or technical skill. They are about creating a safe, supportive space where people can slow down, try something creative, and reconnect with themselves and others. Activities can include mindful art, simple creative exercises, photography based activities, and reflective making. The focus is always on wellbeing, not performance or outcomes.

We are looking for volunteers to join our existing team of art facilitators to help deliver these workshops. As a volunteer, you would support session delivery, help set up and pack down, encourage participants, and help create a calm, welcoming environment. You do not need to be a professional artist or therapist. What matters most is that you are reliable, patient, empathetic, and comfortable working with people who may be dealing with mental health challenges, addiction recovery, or difficult life experiences.

There is also the opportunity for volunteers to bring and develop workshops they already offer, or to propose new ideas that fit within the Evolving Canvases ethos and the MindScapes programe. We actively encourage people to contribute their own creative skills and approaches, as long as they align with our values around safety, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Our workshops take place with partner organisations like The Matthew Project and other community and support services. This means you would be part of work that has real social impact, helping people build confidence, find new ways to express themselves, and feel less alone in their recovery or wellbeing journey.

As Evolving Canvases continues to grow, there will also be opportunities for paid sessional work for facilitators who are a good fit for the organisation and our partners. Volunteering can therefore be a pathway into paid creative facilitation work within our projects.

Volunteering with Evolving Canvases is a chance to gain experience in creative facilitation, community arts, and wellbeing focused practice, while being part of a supportive team that values care, consistency, and respect for everyone who walks into the room.