Communities That Care

Creativity plays an important part in many care homes – and so too does community. With care homes running varied activities most days, alongside the quizzes, outings and bingo there are lots of music, arts and crafts. This week is Care Home Open Week, and I’ve heard people sharing how they feel about the prospectContinue reading “Communities That Care”

Christmas Greetings

What do you think is the most overshadowed way art and creativity can help mental health & wellbeing? The more I’ve led and learned, the more I feel that making art or craft to share and give away needs to be promoted. Yes, a lot of this happens, but more publicity and cooperation would encourageContinue reading “Christmas Greetings”

Space For Solitude

When I hear the word “solitude”, I picture a quiet room with sunlight streaming through the windows and with a chair, and table covered with art materials and a notebook and pen. Everyone’s ideal of a place to spend some time in solitude will be different – but each one will be a space whereContinue reading “Space For Solitude”

Drawing Together

Maybe never have mental health and wellbeing been so openly shared and discussed as the last two or three years, partly spurred by the pandemic, partly by movements for change. So Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) is in a very different position now – but as mental health issues have soared side by sideContinue reading “Drawing Together”

Creative Company

Maybe one of the main ways music, art and nature can boost wellbeing is by drawing people together, creating common ground to share. This can help combat loneliness: and this is Loneliness Awareness Week (14-18 June). This year’s theme is Acceptance, highlighting that everyone feels lonely sometimes. The idea is that by talking more openlyContinue reading “Creative Company”