About Us

Who we are and what we do

The Project Group (Oswestry) CIC is an arts based community interest company (not-for-profit) working largely on art commissions for the public and private sectors.  We have expanded our activities to include community and public workshops, a retail range and the development of workshops and commissions for corporate clients.

We provide a creative environment for individuals, in touch with mental health services, to achieve at their own pace.  We aim to provide an environment in which individuals can flourish, make decisions and take up opportunities to gain the self-belief to move forward. 

In March 2012, Chris Smart of Silva Productions, produced a new film for us about the work of the Project Group.  This short film can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrUuX_tfeUg&context=C4d48ccaADvjVQa1PpcFMcRAsdN5GVlzALnfy7LHhvrlJ8-aN9nBE

In 2011 Shropshire Council commissioned Chris to produce a film, Creating Communities, about the making of art work for community buildings around the county.

The Project Group has around 35 members and we foster a culture of achievement.  Through this culture members gain in confidence and self esteem, showing motivation and commitment, achieving well above their own expectations.

Members are involved in all aspects of group projects and management, taking up roles and responsibilities as well as paid opportunities.  Most members have received CRB clearance to work with children and vulnerable adults.

By developing our workshop programmes and consultancy work, members, who as service users are often cast as passive receivers, can become advisers, facilitators and highly skilled specialists and trainers.                                             

Adopting the CIC model of organisation formalises the user-led nature of the Project Group by placing the Executive Group in the key decision making role.  The Executive Group is made up of members, staff, volunteers, and external representatives.  The member representatives have an inbuilt majority at all times.

We have strong working partnerships with Shropshire Primary Care Trust, local councils, secondary and further education, Shropshire Arts Service, Shropshire MIND, National MIND, disability arts and artists’ networks, Craftspace (West Midlands), Arts Council West Midlands and pilot projects with the corporate sector.

Through our business and community programmes we work with a wide range of groups and individuals, for example: pre-school children, school aged children and students, adults with learning disabilities, disabled artists, professional artists, charities and community groups, the corporate and retail sectors, and a range of professionals, in the NHS and Health and Social Care (both clinical and management), architects, estates managers and builders.

In our studio space in Oswestry town centre, our equipment includes:

• a glass fusion kiln                                                                                 
• a ceramics kiln
• screen-printing facilities
• a graphics suite  
• a laser cutter
• sewing machines