Alabaré joins forces with ex-Naval artist at Salisbury exhibition
Alabaré Christian Care & Support is delighted to have been invited to an exhibition being held at the John Creasey Museum (Salisbury Library & Galleries) from Saturday 6th to Saturday 27th November 2010.
Aftermath is an exhibition by artist John McDermott, an ex-Naval veteran, focusing on conflict and the effects of combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It forms part of a wider project at the Galleries called Other Worlds, which consists of working with 5 soldiers, exploring their world through art. Complimenting this project is a series of exhibitions exploring conflict. John’s exhibition Aftermath is the second in this series and he will be giving a talk about his work at a preview being held on Thursday 11th November at 6pm.
Salisbury-based charity Alabaré, which is rapidly expanding the support it offers homeless and vulnerable veterans, has been invited to promote this area of their work at the exhibition. The artist has also generously offered to donate a percentage of the proceeds towards Alabaré’s growing work with veterans.
Alabaré’s Plymouth Home for Veterans is a supported housing project exclusively for ex-Service men and women who may be struggling to adjust to civilian life. Providing help with a range of issues and enabling residents to access specialist support with issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or drug and alcohol addiction.
John has been working at Alabaré’s Plymouth Home for Veterans to give a series of painting sessions to residents as an effective way of getting veterans to release inner feelings. John also presented the project with £1250 for residents to buy paints and equipment and to enable them to visit exhibitions and galleries.
John says, “I am so impressed with the work that Alabaré is doing to support veterans. They are caring for veterans who have hit rock bottom and who are at their most vulnerable. It is really important that this work continues as there is such a need.”
Alabaré was delighted when John invited the charity to be involved in his Aftermath exhibition, being held at the John Creasey Museum. Not only will Alabaré benefit from the some of the proceeds of the exhibition, it also offers an ideal opportunity for Alabaré to inform visitors of the successful work that it is already doing supporting homeless and vulnerable veterans, an area of work that it is rapidly expanding across the South and South West to meet a growing and ever more urgent need.
Alabaré has been supporting veterans within its projects for many years, but Alabaré’s Plymouth Home for Veterans, the charity’s first project exclusively for ex-Service personnel, was opened in conjunction with The Royal British Legion in 2009. Within its first week of opening the house was full and demand for places has remained high.
In response to the growing need for veterans support projects, Alabaré has been working to secure funding to open new homes based on their Plymouth project. Since August this year Alabaré has been delighted to receive funding from The Royal British Legion, ABF The Soldiers Charity and the RAF Association, as well as grants from a number of smaller trusts, enabling them to open a further two veterans projects in Bristol and Weymouth. The Bristol and Weymouth Homes for Veterans will open later this year.
Beyond these two new projects, Alabaré is hoping to open further similar projects across the South and South West, with Wiltshire and Hampshire, which hold Salisbury Plain, the UK’s largest military training area, earmarked as future locations.
Visit: www.alabare.co.uk
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