Arts & Activity Practitioner at Bethlem Royal Hospital (2022-Present) 

Lewis works for South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in their forensic psychiatric unit at Bethlem Royal Hospital. The unit is called River House and Lewis currently works primarily on their forensic personality disorder ward. They design and deliver daily arts and activity based sessions for inpatients on the ward, all with a focus on building connection, developing understanding of the self, and supporting positive mental wellbeing. 

Activities provision could include gardening, storytelling, creative writing, music, visual arts, photography, cooking, theatre/film making, movement, mindfulness, yoga, book clubs, exercise and much more. 

Lewis works as part of a large multidisciplinary team, which includes Arts Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, and Psychosocial Support Workers. The teams work collaboratively to support the patients in violence reduction, understanding their offence and illness, as well as rehabilitation. 
Facilitator & Access Worker at Half Moon Children & Young People's Theatre (2021-Present)

Half Moon offers a wide range of drama and theatre programmes for young people in Tower Hamlets. Lewis works within this as a freelance facilitator and access worker on intervention programmes and as a creative enabler. The work spans a wide age range from Early Years to Young Adulthood. 

Lewis works or has worked on the following programmes:
  • Next Steps After School Drama: sessions for Years 7-9 exploring identity, agency, and friendship through mantle of the expert.
  • Next Steps Summer School: sessions for young people transitioning into secondary school. This project uses forum theatre to explore what secondary school may be like.
  • Eclipse & Lunar: youth theatre sessions for young people in Tower Hamlets aged 7-11 and 11-13 respectively. Lewis is an access worker, supporting young people with additional needs in the group. 
  • Solar & PerformanceWorks: sessions for young adults with SEND. These projects create innovative theatre with these young adults using their ideas at the heart of the devising process. 
  • Creative Play: weekly sessions for children in Early Years and their parents to explore imaginative play. 
Assistant Youth Director at Group 64 Theatre for Young People (2021-2022) 

In this role, Lewis was responsible for planning and delivering high quality sessions with young people from aged 4 to 19, with a particular focus on facilitating drama and theatre sessions to support mental wellbeing.  They also delivered a variety of outward facing community engagement roles in local schools and colleges, supporting young people to use drama to engage in topics such as rest, mental health, and climate change.
Session Facilitator at Brighter Together (2021-2022) 

As a session facilitator, Lewis worked with the advisory board to develop a programme of intergenerational sessions with early years settings and residential care homes/dementia centres. These sessions are designed with specialist early years professionals, dementia specialists, and occupational therapists. Lewis would facilitate a range of arts sessions with the participants, using crafts, drama, music, movement, and play to encourage conversation, connection, and a sense of purpose. 
Deputy Youth Leader at Disability Challengers (2016-2019) 

Lewis worked alongside the youth leader to develop and run an inclusive youth scheme for young people aged 11-20, who had severe learning disabilities, behavioural needs, and/or profound/multiple physical disabilities. As deputy youth leader, Lewis' main role was in facilitating fun and engaging activities that supporting the development (socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically) of the service users. Lewis was the lead on social, emotional and behavioural needs, supporting families in accessing support from local authority, health services, and social care. 
Project Facilitator at Various (2016-2022) 

Lewis has worked as a facilitator and access worker for a number of different organisations on a project-by-project basis. Here are some examples of the work they have completed: 
  • Touch Tour Facilitator at Artichoke 
  • Lead Facilitator at Beyond Equality 
  • Lead Facilitator at New Cross Theatre 
  • Support Facilitator at Stepping Stones International 
  • Director at The Arcade Youth Theatre 
  • ​Creative Learning Assistant at Park Theatre 

Looking for a workshop in your setting or a facilitator on your project? 

Lewis is open to work with organisations as a facilitator on specific projects or they can bring one of their innovative programmes to your setting. Workshops can be offered in the following areas: 

  • Drama Skills & Public Speaking (ages 4-18) 
  • Exploring Masculinity (ages 16+) 
  • Cabaret Performance (ages 18+)
  • Autobiographical Writing (ages 11+) 
  • Intergenerational Sessions (any age) 
  • Early Years Imaginative Play (0-4) 
  • Disability & Drama (any age with SEND)
  • Poetry Writing & Zine Making (any age) 
  • Facilitation Skills (for practitioners) 
  • Freelance Working in Arts & Health/Education (for practitioners) 

Lewis uses the Artists Union rates of pay but is open to negotiation. 

If you are interested in booking a workshop with Lewis or have a project that you would like Lewis to work on, please contact them via email lewis.pickles1@gmail.com