People with dementia and their carers invited to Breathing Space
The local NHS provider of mental health services is joining forces with Kirklees-based Hoot to provide creative workshops for people with dementia and their carers.
Sessions take place on Monday mornings and run between 10.30am and 12.30pm. The group is open to people with a diagnosis of dementia and their family member, partner, carer or support worker. Participants need to meet the referral criteria which is available from Hoot.
Breathing Space offers people with dementia and their family member, partner, carer or support worker a range of creative activities to improve cognitive function and strengthen relationships. It’s proven that taking part in creative activities has positive benefits to mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Hoot is a creative partner of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and as a result is part of a growing infrastructure of community organisations who are working with the Trust to provide creative projects to local people. As part of Creative Minds the Trust aims to support voluntary and community organisations, like Hoot, to deliver a variety of creative projects to help improve the health and wellbeing of local people.
The Breathing Space sessions give referred participants the opportunity to take part in weekly group sessions where they can meet people, make friends and have fun. Sessions include music and song, movement, dance and visual arts.
This series of accessible group-based movement and dance sessions, which will be lead by the Trust’s dance movement psychotherapist Dr Richard Coaten, will involve a combination of moving, dancing, singing and remembering. It encourages feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem and a joy in moving.
Speaking about Breathing Space, Moira Wade who works at Hoot said, “These sessions will be a great opportunity for local people to meet new people, take part in activities in a safe and supportive environment and have fun! We’re pleased to be teaming up with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on this work and sharing our passion for using creative activities to help people’s care.”
Steven Michael, Chief Executive of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said, “The use of creative activities in healthcare has been shown to increase self-esteem, provide a sense of purpose, develop social skills, help community integration and improve service users’ quality of life. We recognise these benefits and the Creative Minds strategy underlines the Trust’s commitment to having a creative approach to service delivery as well as promoting more opportunities for individuals/groups to develop and grow creatively. Breathing Space is a great example of how we hope our Creative Minds strategy can bring positive benefits to local people; using creative partnership approaches to healthcare not usually associated with the NHS.”
For more information and to find out how to refer contact Moira at Hoot on 01484 516224.
More information about Creative Minds can be found at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/creativeminds