News and Events

In 2003 Richard Morris, volunteer and service user of Leonard Cheshire Services in Derbyshire, set up EnabledArt, an art-based charity.

Here's how he made it happen:
"The seed of the idea to set up an art group came in early 2002, when our day centre was threatened with closure as the council reconsidered the way they purchase services. I, and other artists at the Centre realised we'd be lost without the facility to paint. A few Months later I went to an art exhibition and came across the Society For Disabled Artists (SODA). I asked them if there was a SODA group in Derby and found there wasn't one anywhere in the East Midlands. They offered me a £100 start-up grant if I'd like to set up a SODA group. I discussed this with the other artists at the centre, and discovered many were keen to form a democratic group that wasn't run by the council, and one that fulfilled our Requirements and not the council's. Because the idea was so popular, I could move quickly and in October 2002 a committee of 10 were elected to run EnabledArt. The committee consisted of eight artists like myself and two members of Leonard Cheshire, a centre employee and a volunteer art instructor."

About Us

"After visiting 15 centres we found the Chester Green Community Centre in Derby, and our group opened there in June 2003. On the 1st of April 2004 we leased a new centre of our own at Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby."
"Today we have over 60 members who meet every Tuseday, Wednesday and Thursday. Members pay for the day, which includes: instruction, lunch, transport and care support. This is possible because members have secured payments from social services, so it's a good source of funding. We employ nine staff, three instructors, four carers and two administrator, and have the support of twelve volunteers."