Participant Group: Older people

MEET CELIA A CREATIVE:ENGAGEMENT PARTICIPANT

Posted on June 27, 2024 by - Stories

MEET CELIA A CREATIVE:ENGAGEMENT PARTICIPANT

creative:engagement is Create’s multi-artform project with older people with dementia or poor mental health, supported by Ashurst volunteers. The project aims to build skills and confidence, giving participants a chance to express themselves, connect with others and enhance their overall wellbeing.

Between June and September 2023, participants took part in a series of visual art workshops with Create artist Liz Jackson.

Celia (71) has taken part in several Create projects. We spoke to her about what they mean to her.

“What I like about Create, and why I have begged to continue coming here, is because I live on my own. So, it’s nice to come here with a group of people and get to know others.

“Today we’ve been working on weaving – either paper, material or fabric weaving. Some of us have used a combination of materials in order to produce something. But during my visits [to create projects] over the past 18 months now, we’ve done photography, ceramics, jewellery making, fimo clay. I’m not great at any of them, but I enjoy it all. And as far as I’m concerned, you can always learn new things. You can always develop. I like playing around with things and also seeing how well other people do with it.

“I quite enjoy watching others develop their ideas. It’s great fun to be able to do that with other people. We are bouncing off each other and seeing things we hadn’t thought of doing or trying. So, there’s very much this element of working together, creating and chatting that I enjoy.

“For me, it is very important to be able to create. I end up picking up skills and trying out something that I wouldn’t have tried out at home. And it’s great because I don’t have to be an expert at it. We have some information and loads of choices in terms of materials, so we can be creative in the way we want to be. There’s no competition. We have people who advise us, but we can just go with it and enjoy ourselves.

“Create allows people, many of whom don’t have other outlets, to come together. It’s really quite nice working with and making friends with them. I really enjoy that.”

creative:engagement is a partnership with Ashurst. Employees support the project, working creatively with the participants and building supportive relationships.

meet helen, an art:links participant from westminster

Posted on April 29, 2024 by - Stories

meet helen, an art:links participant from westminster

Research conducted by the National Institute on Aging found that involvement in creative activities among older adults correlates with a range of positive outcomes, including improved cognitive function, memory, self-esteem, reduced stress levels, and increased social interaction.

art:links is Create’s creative arts programme for vulnerable older people, enabling them to express themselves, connect with others, build skills and enhance their overall wellbeing.

Between January and March 2024, older adults who attend Age UK Westminster took part in a visual art project led by Create artist Sam Haynes.  

Helen shared her experiences.

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

“[The project] has introduced me to new skills I didn’t have. I’m not a creative person, so I came to learn and it’s been fascinating. I love seeing new things and how to create things, so it’s widened my knowledge.

It was very inspirational. It opened my own mind to different things, which I think is so important.

HELEN

“You can get very stuck in your ways, and very closed in, but I think in this stage of life you still want to learn things and it’s lovely to learn new skills.

meeting new people

“I love meeting new people. Just as much as I’ve learnt from the team here, I’ve also learnt from the other people taking part. I really enjoyed that. I tried to sit next to different people, because you engage with them and you watch how they approach art, and that’s where you learn. Art is very much open to interpretation, and we all have a different slant. There are quite a number of very local people that I now pass in the street and we engage in conversation, so it’s quite inclusive.

It’s just been so lovely seeing all the different artistic flairs.

helen

“I haven’t had the best of health in the last six months, and I found that living at home on my own, it’s been nice to re-engage with people. And the decoupage is something I know I will continue with at home. I’ve already bought the glues and paints.

This project was supported in London by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington (via The Mercers’ Company) and City Bridge Foundation.

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MEET OWAIN, AN ART:LINKS PARTICIPANT FROM MERTON

Posted on April 29, 2024 by - Stories

MEET OWAIN, AN ART:LINKS PARTICIPANT FROM MERTON

According to research conducted by University College London, engagement in arts groups can have positive effects on wellbeing in later stages of life. These effects include heightened life satisfaction, a strengthened sense of purpose, and reduced feelings of loneliness.

art:links is Create’s creative arts programme with vulnerable older people. It enables participants to build skills and confidence, express themselves, connect with others, and enhance their overall wellbeing.

During February and March 2024, members of Merton Dementia Hub participated in a visual art project led by Create artist Alisa Ruzavina.

Owain shared his first-hand experience of the project.

You need to be creative; it opens the mind. It means your mind is not asleep. In other words, it’s mind blowing.

owain

“I’ve done artwork before, but my skills have always been more practical. “I definitely feel more confident. I feel I’m in charge here, like I’m back in the good old days. I’ve enjoyed all of it.

 “I definitely feel more connected to the others here. I wouldn’t know anybody around here otherwise, so it’s helped me engage with people. You get to know people’s quirks, what makes them special. We’ve all got quirks. For some people here, this is the only time they get to go anywhere outside of their home.”

I enjoy coming up here, and I always look forward to it

owain

This project was supported in London by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington (via The Mercers’ Company), City Bridge Foundation and Wimbledon Foundation  Community Fund.

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MEET YVONNE, AN ART:LINKS PARTICIPANT FROM ISLINGTON

Posted on April 29, 2024 by - Stories

MEET YVONNE, AN ART:LINKS PARTICIPANT FROM ISLINGTON

The UK has an ageing population. Research from The Baring Foundation highlights that many older adults face various challenges such as loneliness, health and financial issues. These can become a barrier for older adults to engage in social and creative activities that are beneficial for their health and happiness.

To help overcome these challenges, Create designed art:links, a programme that uses the creative arts to enable older adults to build skills and confidence, and reduce isolation. art:links gives participants a chance to express themselves, make connections with others, and enhance their wellbeing.

During September and October 2023, members of Age UK Islington took part in an improvisation project led by Create’s drama artist.

We caught up with Yvonne to hear about her experience.

access to creativity

“I don’t normally do creative activities. If there’s a cost, I won’t be able to do it. But this [project] was free: because I’m connected with Age UK, I was able to.”

Age UK’s research highlights the financial concerns among older adults, with 91% expressing worries about the cost of living. This financial strain has led many to reduce social activities and hobbies, impacting mental wellbeing.

enhanced wellbeing

“I really enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to others as well. I even told my doctor about it and she was really happy I had something to help with my mental health and all the things I’ve got going on at the moment.

“I really loved the ‘yes, and’ [activity], where somebody says something and you continue with ‘yes, and’. That was both therapeutic and creative for me. It’s actually helped me in my personal life. It has given me a positive outlook by saying ‘yes, and’ instead of going negative and spiralling down. It’s been good in that regard.

I enjoyed having some place to go to take myself.

YVONNE

“I call it my ‘me time’. Because I’m given a chance to come and do what I want to do, and just be free and I’m not being judged. And the fact that it’s creative is good because my creativity has just gotten to spark up.

meeting new people

“It was nice watching everybody else. I get a bit nervous when I’m put on the spot. But watching everyone else and knowing whatever I said was not going to be criticised or right or wrong was very helpful. It made me want to participate.

“I don’t have a lot of physical seeing people. I do have online telephone meet ups, but to get up and get out has been a nice activity. You get a chance to interact with other people with separate lifestyles. Sometimes you want to talk and sometimes you don’t. But either way, you’ve met people.”

This project was supported in London by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington (via The Mercers’ Company) and City Bridge Foundation.

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MEET JACQUELINE, AN ART:LINKS participant

Posted on January 30, 2024 by - Stories

MEET JACQUELINE, AN ART:LINKS participant

art:links is Create’s creative arts project with vulnerable older people. The project aims to build skills and confidence, giving participants a chance to express themselves, connect with others and enhance their wellbeing.

For six weeks in September and October 2023, members of Chamberlain House Dementia Resource Centre in Kensington and Chelsea engaged in a transformative painting project led by our visual artist Anna Clarke.

We spoke to Jacqueline about her experience on the project.

“I’d always been used to going to clubs, whether it had been a youth club, or the rock n’ roll club. And when they stopped, especially when I got ill, I was lost. I didn’t know what to do. And at that time my hands weren’t as good as they are at the moment.”

As Jacqueline opened up about her journey, she revealed the loneliness that she faced when her family moved away. “I don’t see [my family] like I’d like to because they’ve moved. They’ve got their lives. At least I can get out and I’m not stuck in a bed or anything like that. That would do me in.”

Loneliness is not uncommon among older people in the UK. Age UK reports that over 2 million individuals aged 75 and above in England live alone, and more than a million older people acknowledge experiencing a whole month without engaging in a conversation with a friend, neighbour or family member.

Jacqueline found joy in the art:links project. Her love for drawing and the ability to create something uniquely hers became a source of empowerment.

“I do like my drawing, I’ve always done art. I’ll have to see if any of my kids have got any of the books [of my art]. I enjoyed visual arts because, when you can put something of your own on paper, it’s lovely to know that you’re the one that’s done that.”

Wrapping up her reflections, Jacqueline expressed appreciation for the project, emphasising the simple yet profound joy of being able to step outside and participate in creative endeavours.

“My favourite thing about the project was just coming here, and not being stuck indoors.”

“I can’t push myself around, and my carer is not with me 24/7. So just coming here, and seeing what we can do. And the people as well. It was good. It was enjoyable.”

art:links Kensington and Chelsea is funded by City Bridge Foundation and The Royal Borough of and Chelsea Arts Grants Scheme.

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Meet Tom, a member of Age UK Salford

Posted on December 14, 2022 by - Stories

Tom Age UK Salford

Meet Tom, a member of Age UK Salford

Tom Age UK Salford

For six weeks in September and October 2022, members of Age UK Salford took part in music workshops each Wednesday with Create musician Holly Marland.

Tom (80) told us about his experiences on the project.

“I’ve had dementia for about 10 years. I don’t think it’s got worse but it may have done. As a doctor I had to stop working. I get a lot of support from my wife and I’ve got a daughter who also helps.

“Initially it worried me a lot, and I felt diminished by it. But with all the things like my family and coming here [to Age UK Salford], that’s lifted me up quite a bit. The challenges are trying to remain independent and not leaning too much on your family, be that your wife or your children; and trying to keep your morale up – by going out, by reading and realising that, particularly in this area, there are a lot of lovely people who can help you in this journey, which can be incredibly lonely unless you’ve got support.

a morale boost

“I’ve been coming every Wednesday for the past six weeks. I have learnt a lot. It has also lifted up my morale. Because the teams are so warm and friendly and skilful at talking to people, it has uplifted me psychologically. I’ve learnt how much I enjoy music. It cheers me up and inspires me.

“Doing something creative always feels good because it builds your confidence. When your memory is not as good as it was, that’s absolutely essential.”

tom, create participant

“It’s a very good experience working with the group because it stops you feeling lonely, with a group of people who are probably going down the same road as you, and we all help each other. It’s a very friendly small society.

“Doing something creative always feels good because it builds your confidence. I certainly felt that helps me. When your memory is not as good as it was, that’s absolutely essential.

“I need this support”

“I’ve learnt that I need this support. I find [it] very inspiring, and overall it has taught me how important it is, particularly with dementia, to be talking to and mixing with other people. In many respects we’re all very similar, and we’re all trying to overcome the effects of dementia, which can lower your morale quite a lot.

“I think I’ve always been a creative person. I have sung in choirs as a young man, I’ve probably always been quite good at painting and things like that. But all of this helps me keep happy.

“Projects like this help people living with dementia tremendously in cheering them up because, as we know, dementia is quite depressing, particularly when you’ve had a very active life. I have been very active as a doctor and a surgeon. So it has been good for my morale.”

This project was funded by an anonymous benefactor.

Meet Susan, an art:links participant

Posted on October 3, 2022 by - Stories

Participants on a Create ceramics project with older people from Islington

Meet Susan, an art:links participant

Participants on a Create ceramics project with older people from Islington

art:links reduces the isolation of vulnerable older people. The project aims to build skills and confidence, giving participants a chance to express themselves and connect with others. For four weeks in July 2022, members of Age UK Islington took part in ceramics workshops with Create artist Sam Haynes.

Susan (60+) told us about her experience on the project.

“I gave up being a perfectionist some time ago.”

Susan

“During this project we’ve been using clay, and I for one hadn’t used it since I was at school when I made a clay pot. We were helped and encouraged and shown how to do things. I don’t know what to call what I’ve made. It could be a holder for joss sticks, those long straw-like things. Or if family came to dinner I could put some breadsticks in there.  I started the project feeling really tense but I felt very relaxed by the time I’d had my hands in the clay for a bit. It was really nice.

“It’s very unusual for me to do something like this. My job is sitting in a chair talking to people. My children are quite artistic but I’ve never been tempted to do anything myself. I think you get to a point at a certain age where you don’t want to do things badly, but now I’m past caring. I’m just enjoying it. I gave up being a perfectionist some time ago but this is the first time I’ve done anything like this so I didn’t expect too much, I just thought ‘enjoy it’. I know I’m not going to be really good at it but I really enjoy doing it.

Artwork from a Create ceramics project in Islington

“I’ve enjoyed meeting the other people and seeing what they’re doing. I enjoyed meeting Oli [Create Project Manager] and Sam. She’s very clear, and you don’t feel like you’re not getting enough attention. She’s very good. She has a nice, clear voice as well.

“I’ve learnt that there’s a lot to learn. I don’t know when I’ll get another chance to do it, but I enjoyed it, so I’ll look out for a class. It’s just a very nice, relaxed atmosphere.

Making creativity accessible

“In a typical week, I’d be meeting friends and going for a walk in the park, or to an art gallery. I think my favourite gallery is the Courtauld.

“I don’t normally get a chance to do creative things, unless you count cooking something interesting, but actually holding material and creating something, I don’t get many chances. So it felt very good and it was fun! I’ve learnt that it’s okay to enjoy [the process] and not make everything perfect.

Artwork from a Create ceramics project in Islington

“I think when you get older, you don’t want to go and try something when everyone’s much younger in the room and knows what they’re doing. So [Create projects] make it feel very accessible. It’s nice to meet different people, too. When you’re my age a lot of your friends start falling off the perch. If I bumped into any of my fellow participants in the future, I’d stop and talk to them.”

This project was supported by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington (via The Mercers’ Company).

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Photography by Age UK members goes on tour in Havering

Posted on December 10, 2021 by - News

Age UK Havering exhibition at MyPlace

Photography By Age UK members goes on tour in Havering

Age UK Havering exhibition at MyPlace

Photographs taken by members of Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering during a Create project are being shown in a touring exhibition at three Havering venues between now and the end of the year.

The exhibition is on display at MyPlace community centre in Harold Hill, Havering (to 20 November), and then moves on to Mercury Mall in Romford (22-30 November) before culminating at Fry’s Gallery in Hornchurch’s Fairkytes Arts Centre (2-9 December). The exhibition has been funded by Havering Council, and is free to visit.  

Age UK Havering participant artlinks
One of the participants working with Create photographer Alejandra at Langtons House

The photographs were taken during our art:links project in September and October 2021. Members of Age UK visited the beautiful grounds at Langtons House in Hornchurch with our professional photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra and Nurturing Talent artist Ashley Gill. They were encouraged to take pictures that celebrated “reconnection”, both with each other after the lockdown, and with nature.

MEET DIANA

The project participants are all members of Age UK’s Di’s Diamonds group. Diana talked to us about her experiences:

“From the first few minutes of a very warm and friendly welcome, Alejandra encouraged us to explore our inner creativity to produce imaginative, eye-catching and colourful work. Not for us the technicalities of ISO and white balance, but the freedom of roaming round the beautiful gardens and greenhouse thinking outside the box and using all sorts of natural items such as rain-dropped leaves to tubes of paper, prisms and natural framing to create wonderful abstract photographs. 

“Using these objects and other exercises we learnt physically about zoom control, how to add light to our subjects using mirrors and light box diffusers, and how to create shadows. We were lucky to have lovely sunny days but even when we had heavy rain we managed to capture great shots in between downpours.  We had immense fun and each Tuesday I was so happy in the anticipation of joining the group, ecstatic during the class doing what I love doing best, and so feeling pleased with what I had achieved I went home smiling and blissfully content. 

“Thank you to Alejandra for being such a kind, encouraging and enthusiastic [facilitator], and the Create team. They too were so helpful aiding us and giving us so much praise for our work, which in turn gave us all a great feeling of accomplishment and self-worth. I’m sure I speak for others by saying how much we appreciate everyone’s efforts in keeping us happy and calm during an otherwise terrible time.”

See some of their images below.

art:links Havering was funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, The Mercers’ Company and W G Edwards Charitable Foundation.

Meet Leah, a member of Age UK Islington

Posted on November 8, 2021 by - Stories

A workshop with Age UK Islington

Meet leah, a member of Age UK Islington

A workshop with Age UK Islington

art:links is Create’s national creative arts programme connecting and upskilling vulnerable older people. During September and October 2021, members of Age UK Islington took part in music workshops with our professional musicians Holly Khan and Kate Smith. We spoke to Leah about her experience on the project.

“I’ve enjoyed singing, I’ve enjoyed the writing exercises, I’ve enjoyed seeing our work come together in songs.”

Leah

“I’ve been going through a really difficult time. I’ve just moved house and I’m a family carer, so I have some of that responsibility. My life is really quite lonely. It’s been really good to get out and meet people again. Where I was living before, I couldn’t get Zoom and I often couldn’t get phone calls. It makes you feel really isolated. So it’s been lovely to come back out and do something.

“As a group, we created a poem, which we then scored. We created the poem as part of a free-writing exercise: we went into the park, collected natural objects, wrote about them, and then used that as a basis for the song. It was absolutely brilliant, I was so proud when I saw it last week. I’ve also created some stories, and I started to create a poem as well.

Click play to hear the first poem set to music, created by the participants

“IT WAS LIKE MISSING A LIMB”

“I’ve enjoyed singing, I’ve enjoyed the writing exercises, I’ve enjoyed seeing our work come together in songs. And it’s made me realise how much I missed the musicianship I’ve been part of before, which I haven’t done for a while.

“I’ve learnt that, with music, you don’t lose it. I think that’s been really important. I’m 56 and the last time I did something particularly musical I was in my late 20s, maybe early 30s, when I was in a community choir. And then I just got busy with work because I was travelling, and I had to drop it. And that was it.

“It was like missing a limb, but I didn’t actually understand that until I came back and started doing something again. I’m not letting it go again. I will have to find ways, but music is going to be a part of my life in an active way, not just listening to the radio or going to concerts, I actually want to be involved in making music.

Click to hear the second poem

“Holly and Kate were so well tuned as to how to get the best out of people. I’ve loved having them as leaders. I think they’re really good, I’ve learnt some new skills. It has been a lovely experience.

“Although I write and I think of myself as a writer, I didn’t understand that I see the world through stories. I hadn’t realised that it’s almost a building block of how I see the world. I now understand that I’m a writer because it’s a function of vision. People who paint see images, and I see stories and I always have, and I hadn’t actually connected that that’s the way things are. But I do now, so I’ve been much, much happier.

“Yesterday I went and got all my writing practice books because I will be starting again, and one day of the weekend is going to be for my writing. I’ve got a series of books that I’ve been working on, and I’m on the third one and I haven’t done any work on it in about eight months. I’m ready. One day a week is enough even if it’s just a few hours, to get back into the routine. I’m looking forward to that.”

Click to hear the third poem

art:links is funded by The Mercers’ Company and Masonic Charitable Foundation.

More about art:links

carers week young carers artwork

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Create and Ashurst win prestigious legal CSR award

Posted on November 1, 2021 by - News, Blogs

creative engagement project with Ashurst

CREATE AND ASHURST WIN PRESTIGIOUS LEGAL CSR AWARD

creative engagement
A volunteer and participant on the creative:engagement project

I’m delighted that our Ashurst / Create partnership has won the Legal Week CSR Innovation (Collaboration) Award.

Recognising “exceptional achievement and best practice”, this award acknowledges the innovative, collaborative approach taken to reducing isolation and building confidence among older people through the creative arts.

The award-winning project, creative:engagement, focuses on older people with dementia and mental ill-health. Bringing older people together from two different organisations, it provides them with the opportunity to explore their creativity through creative projects led by our professional artists. It also promotes social interaction amongst participants, the staff who care for them and Ashurst volunteers, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation and increasing feelings of self-worth, confidence and wellbeing.

ashurst award win
The award win was announced at a virtual ceremony

We’ve worked with Ashurst since 2015, with our creative:engagement workshops usually (pre-lockdown) hosted at Ashurst’s London office. Over the years we’ve seen the project go from strength to strength, and both participants and volunteers have felt their confidence, creative skills, social interaction and teamwork strengthened. Seeing friendships flourish across the generations is one of the project’s greatest strengths.

One of the participants said:

“When you get to Ashurst you get a massive welcome, it’s so big and posh but they have the time and they stop for us. The artists get it right, how they explain things, the approach, the attention. The end product doesn’t matter, it is something you take home, but the process, the experience is always there.”

During the lockdown, we’ve been continuing the project over the phone, connecting isolated older people and Ashurst volunteers with our professional musician for music, singing and fun. As lockdown has meant many of our participants are shielding and have been unable to see family and friends, bringing them together through creativity has never been more important:

“The workshop has woken me up. I was beginning to get tired with nothing to do, no one to talk to. […] I really enjoyed it today, I’ll sleep tonight!”

We’re delighted that this important work – and our ongoing partnership with Ashurst – has been recognised with the prestigious award.

Read more about our partnership