Field of Hope is an arts programme connected to Tina’s Haven, a pioneering project to develop approaches to provide holistic, creative and therapeutic support to birth mothers who have been severed by addiction, created by Sue Robson.

Field of Hope has been running since 2022 and is a partnership between The Barn and Easington, Tina’s Haven and Addictions North East.

Artists connected to The Barn at Easington - Sharon Bailey, Nicola Balfour, Ellin Hare and Nell Catchpole - have been using photography, forest bathing, film and sound to engage with the women in meaningful and nurturing ways.

An exhibition of photography is being shown at the Art Café in Yoden Rd, Peterlee until Friday July 28th.

The weekly workshops are delivered outside, in a beautiful, calm, safe, natural outdoor environment by  artists and practitioners who are highly experienced in trauma informed therapists, addiction recovery, and women’s self-empowerment.

Those taking part are mothers, whose children have been removed, or at risk of being removed, because of trauma-based addiction, and are currently in existing recovery support for their addictions.

“The Barn gave me peace when my head was screaming at me. I could hear the flies buzzing. I never usually hear anything in the madness.”

“It’s so important to open up to what you are seeing and feeling.  Having time for yourself and finding peace with yourself ”

“Even though it is scary and emotional, I find peace at The Barn. Experiencing new things when your lifestyle in addiction is like sitting with the curtains drawn. I feel I’m seeing things clearly for the first time.”

The aim of Tina’s Haven is to ensure women are offered the right support, at the right time, in the right place, and supporting them to understand what has happened to them by creating spaces to tell their stories whilst being deeply connected to nature.

The project is in memory of Sue’s daughter Tina Robson, who died age 35 in a mixed sex hostel, having suffered trauma and addiction for many years of her life, leaving behind her adored son Vinnie.  Thus, out of one family’s tragic experiences of severance, trauma, and loss, came determination to create something positive, hopeful, and transformational.