Reachout Create: Zine Making Workshop

New date confirmed. Join Amy to create your own zines (short for magazines.) We are running a morning and an afternoon session.

Last November we had to postpone this Zine Making Workshop. We are pleased to confirm the new date for this workshop is Thursday 5th February. We hope you can join us.

Who can attend?

We welcome anyone living in Croydon over the age of 18 who has lived experience of mental health conditions. All levels of creative skill and artistic ability are welcome. Are workshops are free to attend.

What time is it?

This workshop will be with a smaller group, so we will be running two session times to pick from. Both sessions includes a free light lunch from 1pm to 2pm.

Morning Session: 11am to 2pm

Afternoon Session: 1pm to 4pm

Zine Making Workshop with Amy

What is a Zine?

A zine (pronounced 'zeeen', like the end of magazine), is a self published booklet made from 1 or 2 pieces of paper. Z ines or 'fanzines' originated through letter-writing, and people sharing information with each other about things they were passionate about.

In the 1980’s there was a photocopier boom! This meant that suddenly more people had access to low cost printing. Being able to self-publish zines gave people who were overlooked within mainstream media the opportunity to have their voices heard. Zines are a great tool for mental wellbeing and to connect with others. Due to their self-published and DIY nature you don't have to worry about what you write.

Campaign using Zines

Zines are great way to get your voice heard. We will have a range of prompts from our Hear Us Campaigns project to base a Zine on. These will include prompts on a range of issues effecting the mental health community. An example prompt: The benefits of being able to go outside and access to fresh air. Through our Linkworking Project, Hear Us found many people on mental health wards have no access to outside spaces. We want to show the positive effects having access to outside space can have on persons wellbeing.

What to expect from the workshop

• Spend time looking at examples and learning about Zines
• Learn how to fold paper to create your own booklet
• We have a range of prompts to choose from.
• Use college, drawing, paint, stencils to create your zine
• Create copies of you zine using a photocopier.

Refreshments and light lunch are provided. Join us at 1pm to enjoy a social hour with lunch..

About the Reachout Create Project

Our mental health Croydon community has shared with us that some people find it easier to tell their stories of lived experience in creative ways. We've decided to provide a series of free online and in-person creative sessions and workshops over the next two years. Our future workshops will include creative writing, photography, zine and banner-making, drawing and more. These will be run by artists with lived experience. With your consent the work that you create in these workshops will be used as training materials as part of our ‘ReachOut Challenge project’ which is our anti-stigma and mental health awareness campaign. The Hear Us Reachout Create project is possible thanks to funding from the London Community Foundation through the Adobe Fund.

About Hear Us

Hear Us is Croydon’s Mental Health service user group. We are your voice in mental health. Our purpose is to promote, educate, communicate and empower, for the benefit of people affected by mental health issues. Our organisation is 100% service user run. We are launching new creative workshops led by lived experience artists. We run a range of other projects including peer support, welfare and benefit advice, campaigning and an Open Forum. To find out more about what we do, visit our website.