“It’s been really good. It sort of gave me a purpose coz I was coming sort of two days a week as well. It gave me purpose. It sort of broke my week up as well. I don’t know, it’s changed me a lot in a sense I’ve probably got a lot more confidence back, … More Chantal says: “LandWorks has given me motivation and faith in the world…”
“So after coming out of prison I thought my life was gonna be amazing, […], I would go back to normal life but without the stresses and the dramas of being on bail … that wasn’t the case. […] With all that, my mental health, you know, I came out with such, you know, great … More Cherry says: “one thing I struggled with, coming out of prison, is feeling like I was being judged by everyone.”
“I was having a panic attack when I got here the first time ‘coz I’m anaemic and stuff […] My probation officer brought me here. I thought it was a bit of a weird setting. I think everyone was in yoga, so it was nice that everyone wasn’t about. I think it would’ve been way … More Chantal says: “It’s really like what you call therapeutic. When you’re making stuff you’re not thinking about stuff.”
“I still go back and forward. I still have days where I completely shut down, but I’m much more withheld now, like drawn back if I get into those episodes. I don’t talk to anyone, and I don’t … whereas before it was more like a cry out for help, whereas now it’s not, now … More Deer says: “a lot of people say to me that I’m a creative person and recognise the effort I put into my work, and it makes me wanna do stuff outside of LandWorks and be creative…”
The first time I came to have a look around and meeting everyone and seeing everything, I just instantly was like this is what I want to do. Like I instantly knew. I just feel safe here and I find it hard to trust people, especially people like in authority or whatever, but I instantly … More Deer says: “seeing that a lot of people who work here used to be like us, it’s a symbol of hope…”
Like I say, the LandWorks part helped me out tremendously really. It got me out of the prison every day, well, except obviously Saturdays and Sundays and they just used to let me get on with whatever I wanted to do, which was my bowls and things. The bowl-turning, yeah. Graham taught me how to … More Bob says: “All of this is down to LandWorks really. They set me on the path […] I do actually enjoy what I’m doing now”
“… I don’t have a house at the moment. I am living with friends and moving around. I mean I guess for me it’s a choice right now, so it feels like it’s ok. I was really struggling living in London with the whole like …busyness, the rent, the monotony, just hundreds and hundreds of … More Mabel says: “it’s really important to see that you can do something in one place in a community and it has huge ripples…”
“Inside this place, it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun. I really like it here. I’ve learnt a lot, especially off Graham. He’s been a good mentor and the workshop is the place I enjoy the most. I love working with wood, doing different things. I learnt to use different machinery. It’s gives … More Shadar haran says: “I think I’ve changed for the better…”
“Since being at LandWorks I think I now know who I am … a general direction, you know, I don’t have a job yet, but I know where I’m heading, and confidence. I’m definitely more confident. I’m trying to think of the right words … yeah, I guess it’s helped me help myself a bit, … More Cassandra says: “It’s been a long journey. I mean the hard part was getting to here and the rest of it now is maintenance.”
“I vaguely remember the first day. I was very nervous, yeah. Do you know when it was? No, I don’t, because there was a few weeks I didn’t come. Some reasons were valid, but sometimes I just like, you know … but I’m loving it now and my mindset’s so much better. I really look … More Justina says: “they seem to be thriving now, and I’m seeing it in myself…”
A window into LandWorks 