Overview

Painting with a Purpose is part of Chrissie’s giving back to the world through art. The initiative aims to bring together like-minded people to collaborate on a project that can create funds for various charities by hosting Play with Paint classes. These can be attended by beneficiaries and workers from various charities, who would like the opportunity to play and experiment with paint. The outcomes are that the paintings created are sold to raise funds for the charity associated with the event. The Charity would be responsible for finding the beneficiaries and staff to attend the sessions, liaising with Chrissie to arrange the sessions and the fund-raising initiatives. Chrissie will run up to 3 sessions with the charity and all proceeds less art materials costs and travel will be donated to the charity. Please contact Chrissie if you are a charitable organisation that would like to get involved in this kind of fundraising activity. We have space for up to 3 charities a year.

This is a project where everyone wins, the beneficiaries and staff learning to paint in a safe space and create something that will live with them for ever. It is designed to give everyone involved an opportunity to learn about art and give back to the organisation that has supported them.   We have completed a very successful pilot in the UK with PACT in Reading this summer and the beneficiaries and staff have produced in excess of 120 pieces of art. Please go to to https://www.pactcharity.org/alana-house/alana-house-community/painting-with-purpose/ to see the product lines they have now put up there that feature the women’s work. There is also an article that has been produced at https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/reading-art-sessions-empower-women-and-raise-funds-for-domestic-abuse/ PACT is also monitoring the benefits in terms of mental health and confidence of all involved. One unexpected outcome is the level of art appreciation the process has enabled in participants and everyone goes away very satisfied with what they have achieved using an intuitive approach. We are now moving into phase 2 of the project where the fundraising arm of PACT will be exploring ways of exhibiting and auctioning the work and possibly producing other products featuring the artwork for future income streams. One idea is to create a coffee table book of the art and beneficiary comments on the process and outcomes.

The People

Painting with a Purpose is part of Chrissie’s giving back to the world through art. The initiative is being undertaken with David Villa-Clarke , founder of Project Volunteer and Sherece Rainford of……… and aims to bring together like-minded people to collaborate on a project that can create funds for various charities by hosting Play with Paint classes. 

Chrissie Hawkes is a full time artist, facilitator and coach. She has an MA in Health and Community Development as well as qualifications in training and coaching. She has extensive experience of working with public and private organisations and community groups and is currently writing a book on Art and In-Tuition.

David Villa-Clarke BEM, MBA, is passionate about giving back to communities in the UK and overseas. He is the current President and Founder of Project Volunteer, a charity that works with over 500 orphans in Botswana, providing an annual holiday camp with visitors from the UK. He is the Chairman for Jaawubu for Communities a charity that works in Kenya helping to eradicate female menstrual poverty and support female empowerment for widows. David is also the CEO of the Aleto Foundation who support young people from tough reality backgrounds to develop their leadership skills.

As an accomplished Toastmaster and Public Speaker David enjoys sharing motivational stories.

David was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honours list, for his services to charity and sports.

He currently supports three main charities: Project Volunteer, http://www.project-volunteer.org/

The Aleto Foundation, https://www.aletofoundation.org.uk

Jaawabu for Communities. https://jaawabu.org/

Watch David’s TEDx talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATJ2HGiwo40