Artspace Cinderford and New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, are running two exciting new arts projects, with older people and their carers. Artspace's project 'Creative Care' is funded by the GCF Freemasons Trust. Textiles artist, Lizzie Godden, has been working with participants from Sheppard House day centre, and the Three Ashes residential care home, Newent. In Cirencester, New Brewery Arts 'Making Memories' project is funded by The Baring Foundation. Ceramics artist, Claire Loder, is working with 10 care home residents, some in the early stages of dementia, and 6 elderly carers.
Both projects aim to reduce isolation, offering opportunities for participants to meet and socialise, and introducing them to the benefits of art activities, setting them up with the skills to continue practising their artwork with the person they care for.
Through the projects and via exhibition, Artspace and New Brewery Arts are working in partnership to publicise the '5 Ways to Well-being' (NHS) public health message. The message, developed by the New Economics Foundation, indicates five, simple steps that can contribute towards positive mental health and well-being.
THE 5 WAYS TO WELL-BEING PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGE:
· Connect… with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
· Be active… Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
· Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to your friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
· Keep learning… Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
· Give… Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Artspace Cinderford's General Manager, Hannah Elton-Wall comments:
"Many arts organisation, like Artspace and New Brewery Arts, already recognise a clear link between creativity and well-being. The concept runs through everything we do, particularly working with vulnerable or disadvantaged groups who may be more at risk of developing mental health issues. It is great to champion the 5 Ways To Well-being message, as it sits so comfortably with our work and what we aim to achieve as an organisation."
The artwork created will be exhibited, alongside information about the 5 Ways message, at Artspace from May to June and at New Brewery Arts from July to September. For more information on the 5 Ways to Well-being, contact People and Places Gloucestershire.