Page 49 - Real Rochdale Issue 17 Spring 2023

Dani Burke: mental

wellness through art

Every Saturday at the Carnegie Library in Castleton, a small group
of teenagers are picking up their paints and using art as a

therapeutic outlet – all thanks to one woman.

Dani Burke is the artist behind the Creative At the time of publication, Dani has
Teenage Sessions CIC, which provides free recently finished running a series of
art sessions in a positive safe space. private sessions for young girls aged
11-17 on a Monday evening: Empowering &
Everything is provided for with no costs or Inspirational Sisters.
hidden fees, as Dani is firm that finances
need not be a barrier: “Some teens might The group’s work will be on display in a small
come from financially vulnerable families exhibition at the library, showcasing the
and I want these sessions to be accessible to different themes touched on over the weeks.
everyone.”
“These sessions were set up to give young
After her father died, Dani turned to art. girls the tools to deal with body positivity
Unable to sleep and battling depression, and open up to express themselves in a
Dani dug out some blank canvases and positive way away from social media and
picked up her paints, before going on to set engaging with other girls,” she explained.
up her abstract art business, The Studio
Artisan. “One mum told me how her young daughter
is dealing with the pressures of social media
Wanting to help others use art in a similar and has received inappropriate messages at
way, she started to run free voluntary just eleven.
sessions for struggling teenagers and adults.
“We’ve covered lots of different topics
Now Dani runs sessions through Rochdale and talking about what life is like now for a
Mind as a mentally health trained peer young girl, such as pressure to look a Last year Dani was shortlisted for the “It shocks me that there’s nothing in
support worker, as well as her own sessions certain way. That has always been there but Rochdale Borough Sports & Culture Awards, Rochdale for women of that age. Women
for teens through her Community Interest it’s more difficult now. which celebrates local sporting and cultural are fabulous when they’re 60; they say what
Company (CIC). She’s also held one-off heroes. they think and they don’t care what people
sessions such as one with Healthwatch “When I was that age, it was Photoshopped think about them.
Rochdale for people with dementia, which models in magazines and you could choose Since setting up the CIC, Dani has taken on
she “really enjoyed and wants to do more of.” not to look, now it’s filters and influencers two additional volunteers and an additional “It’d be great to have a two-hour session
everywhere, and unwanted sexual attention. director, meaning she can now apply for during the day that mums can come to when
Dani’s Saturday sessions have recently been funding – something that had been a barrier the kids are at school. It’s hard to fit things
on hiatus, but in that time she has still taken “We needed a place to celebrate being when first starting out. around being back for them so a two-hour
members of the group on day trips out to female, empowering these girls and session would be ideal to fit into the day.
the likes of Skylight Circus Arts, Rochdale’s showing them they can do what they want Now Dani has also set her sights on
Curtain Theatre and Oldham Coliseum. and giving the confidence to do that. After running a group for peri-menopausal and “I’m looking for a base now to be open all
the first session, they were already menopausal women – and is ready to week, an open door for the community and a
“I want them to know that I still care about making friends and swapping phone welcome any older volunteers. warm space for company. I need something
them,” she said. numbers.” permanent; that’s my next goal.”

REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2023 48 49 REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2023