Events for professionals who work with people with dementia
Kirklees-based organisation Hoot, in partnership with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is inviting people who work in the dementia field to get a taster of creative activities offered by the Breathing Space project and see how creativity can be used to help people living with dementia.
The Breathing Space programme 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.
As part of the events people will be able to try out music, movement and visual arts sessions and take away creative ideas that they can use with people they work with who have dementia.
The Creative Dementia Sessions will each run between 1.30 and 3.30pm on:
• Friday 19th July – Movement; Hoot Creative Arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3DX,
• Friday 26th July – Music; Huddersfield Methodist Mission, Lord Street, Huddersfield
• Friday 2nd August – Visual Arts; The Media Centre, Northumberland Street, Huddersfield
Absolutely no previous experience is needed, all the activities are designed to be easily accessible so just come along to find out more.
Breathing Space is provided by Hoot, which 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.
Since Breathing Space began local people diagnosed with dementia have been attending weekly group activities where they can meet people, make friends and have fun. Sessions include music and song, movement, dance and visual arts.
Moira Wade, who coordinates the project at Hoot said, “Our Breathing Space programme is going from strength to strength and we’d like to invite professionals from the dementia field to attend these taster sessions to see just how beneficial creative activities can be to someone living with dementia. 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. These sessions will focus on using creativity to engage people and stimulate memories and imagination. Come to one, come to some or come to all!”
Places are free but limited so please book a place. For more information and to book contact Moira at Hoot on 01484 516224.
More information about Creative Minds can be found at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/creativeminds
