Staff at Worthing JobCentre Plus have been spending their lunch breaks developing arts and crafts skills, and they held their first exhibition at the Crown House offices – all thanks to work of a PCS Union Learning Rep (ULR).

As a PCS ULR and Branch Learning Co-ordinator, Catherine McLelland - who’s day job is a Benefits Processer, has been organising learning events at Worthing for several years. 

Having trained as an Artist and Teacher, Catherine has been using her skills to both co-ordinate and teach Art and Craft workshops for staff at lunch breaks. 

Catherine said:

One of the most exciting things about these lunchtime groups is that people from various sections and grades come together and enjoy one-another’s company whilst learning something new and creative. Having seen the emergence of friendships, talents, skills and confidence through these workshops, I was inspired to celebrate this through an Art and Craft Exhibition at work. This was twined with my interest in bringing all staff together in the Worthing site community."

Exhibitors ranged from almost complete beginners to very experienced Artist/ Crafts people and the work included cross stitch, decoupatch, paper crafts, jewellery, quilting, embroidery, knitting, toy making, mosaic, painting (acrylic and oil) and photography.

After speaking to her Site Manger at Worthing, Catherine was able to gain 20 minutes flexi-time for any member of staff attending the event. Other managers were really impressed with the level of work exhibited and are happy to continue supporting the sessions. 

When asked what they had learned from participating in the event, some staff commented that they learned " …just how talented and innovative so many of my colleagues are" and as one exhibitor stated, "It’s amazing that people that you work with have hidden skills".

Catherine and others were impressed and thrilled with the standard of skills and talent of their colleagues. Feedback after the events mentioned that "The work is really professional and that this is the kind of experience you’d expect in a real gallery".

People also recognised the benefits of the relaxed atmosphere created by the exhibitions with one visitor saying:

[The atmosphere was]… brilliant, bright, relaxed, and even better with the music playing’  and another pointing ‘People enjoyed looking around so…it could be repeated as a stress busting session".

Catherine said:

I was delighted to see so many staff embracing this event as a new experience. Of the participants who responded to my survey, 70 % had never exhibited their Art and Craft before and 100% of this group said they would do this again. 100% of all participants stated that they would take part in an event like this again. One colleague commented that they would like to exhibit again and maybe this would encourage me to do more painting/drawing."

After the event Catherine felt that there had been a number of benefits to holding the event. The Art and Craft Exhibition brought many staff together from different parts of the building. PCS Members and non members had the opportunity to speak to PCS Representatives in a relaxed environment. 

Catherine added:

Artists and Crafters found it to be a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills and reveal their talents to their colleagues. Forty-six staff visited the exhibition - around a third of the entire staff count at Worthing. Staff found it relaxing, a break from the everyday. Many found that it was an opportunity to learn about new arts and crafts, to learn more about our colleagues through their art/craft work and through the mini autobiographies that accompanied the work. 50% of exhibition participants had only begun to learn painting through PCS Art at Lunchtime sessions. The Art and Craft Exhibition revealed that, for many, the PCS Art at Lunchtime workshops was the beginning of a creative journey."

Catherine was particularly moved to read one comment on the feedback sheet from an artist who would prefer to remain anonymous.

People always criticised my drawing when I was young and one school teacher gave me detention because my sketching was so poor (I was only five years old!)  When I left school I stopped all art work. Through the Learning At Work classes Catherine has encouraged me to have another go at drawing and painting. I know I have a lot to learn, but it is fun attempting different techniques without fear of detention!".

Catherine’s lunch time learning sessions are set to continue and future exhibitions are in the pipeline.