Friendship Arts Creativity Expression

What is FACE?

We are a service user-led unincorporated association serving adults affected by enduring mental ill health, living in or around County Durham. If you would like more information, get in touch by sending a message below.

Get in touch

Services we provide

F A C E
Friendship, Arts, Creativity, Expression

We provide a forum and workshops for friendship, mutual support, and creativity in any medium that members wish to use.

Many of us use photography, draw, paint, and / or write, and we are open to other creative media workshops as they are suggested. We also join with each other for field trips and visits to destinations of cultural and creative interest.

Covid-19 Notice

During the C-19 pandemic we have been supported by NSUN (National Survivor User Network) to maintain remote support to our members individually by 'phone. Our successful bid to the National Lottery Community Fund will fund our new 'Friends In Touch' project, delivering a range of services and remote activities to members.

This website is one of them!

F A C E History

Until 2009, Durham Social Services provided Day Care support and creative activities in their dedicated building for constituents enduring mental ill health. When this service was closed down and the site sold off in 2009, supported by Melanie Todd (the participatory artist who had been engaged by DSS to provide creative services) these previous DSS clients took the initiative to create their own user-led organisation to continue their friendships, self-support network, and creative work together. In March, 2011 FACE was constituted as a user-led unincorporated association serving an open membership of adults affected by enduring mental ill health. Nine years later we are continuing with our work, and expanding to provide a wider range of services and information for our clients.