We are delighted to have been awarded a £20,000 Comic Relief grant to provide “engaging art and creative sessions” in two of their residential homes in Neath Port Talbot.
The grant spans over two years and will both enhance the well-being and social interaction amongst residents, as well as enabling staff to spend quality time having fun with the residents and learning new skills.
Carly Dix, Pobl Group Project Manager said “A real sense of inclusion can be gained from participating in such activities, tackling head-on some of the problems frequently experienced by older people such as loneliness, isolation and depression.
We are currently working with specialist arts organisation Arts Care Gofal Celf (ACGC) to select professional artists to deliver a series of bespoke creative sessions with residents and staff. ACGC have access to a wide range of professional artists experienced in delivering art programmes that are both engaging and address the health and wellbeing of people from a diverse range of backgrounds.’’
Chris Ryan, ACGC’s Director added, “There is increasing recognition of the benefits for everyone of having the chance to take part more actively in the arts, and the impact of participation on our physical and mental health and well-being. We are delighted to be working with Pobl Group to demonstrate the range of positive impacts that such programmes can have on residents and staff in Neath Port Talbot.”
Residents and staff have been involved with the project’s design and delivery and can’t wait for it to start in April, when the artists can get to know everybody and start discovering their individual stories and interests.
Following the recent consultation with residents, it has been decided the workshops will include storytelling and creative writing, land art, felt art crafting, singing and playing musical instruments and dance.
A selection of the activities will be delivered in the first year giving residents a choice of what they would like to participate in. Feedback from residents and staff will then be instrumental in influencing programme content for the second year.
It’s not just about the residents – another key element of the project is to enable staff to experience and explore their own creativity, recognising the limited time and resources available to staff and to inspire ideas that can be adapted to many circumstances and participants. Further staff training will be provided to empower them to continue to provide engaging art and creative sessions beyond the grant funded period.
Article added: 12th April 2018
