- This programme, from 1st April 2019 to 30th September 2020, successfully built on the 2018 Our Work of Art project.
- It was designed to help to overcome some of the loneliness and isolation that many older people (aged 50-100 ) experience, including those who live with dementia and, or, other long term
- It also extended a rewarding experience to more, older, ‘active ageing’ people (aged 50-80+) as creative volunteers.
- Some of the 2018 volunteers contributed to the training, to enthuse and motivate new people, who were keen to become creative volunteers, wanting to ‘make a difference’.
- The group creative workshop sessions included painting ceramics and many other diverse crafting activities.
- It was led by Espression Arts CIC (Catherine Arnell) supported by Kent Arts and Wellbeing (Fay Blair and Ken Scott).
- The project mentor was Dr Pat Chung, Canterbury Christ Church University.
- Age UK Canterbury and Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable were the core project beneficiary and steering group partners.
Components of the 2019 programme:
- Training new volunteers in safeguarding and creative workshop skills.
- Volunteer support via peer network meetings and mentoring.
- Taster creative workshop sessions in rural outreach locations and creative workshops at Age UK day centres and other care settings.
- Overall 241 people were involved in the 2019 programme.
- 212 vulnerable older people were supported by 29 ‘active ageing’ volunteers (aged 50-80+ years).
- 1,935 volunteer hours were contributed.
- 47 workshop sessions were delivered.
- 18 rural outreach workshops were delivered across the Canterbury City Council District.
- This involved 168 older people in 9 different rural venue settings.
- 29 workshop mini-programmes for older people (aged 65-100yrs) were also held in 8 different settings, organised and delivered via 9 different groups.
- The bespoke ‘Arts & Wellbeing’ volunteer training with creative skills-building was delivered via a four-part module, a specially devised programme, delivered to 14 new volunteers.
- 4 experienced volunteers helped with the delivery of this training, devised and led by the project team leads.
- 10 facilitated (monthly) peer support network meetings, and two extra specialist craft sessions (‘decopatch’ and mosaics) were delivered for the experienced volunteers.
Outcomes
- The rural outreach workshops, through tea-time group activities, in village halls and other settings, were appreciated by all.
- The volunteers and the older people who took part in the local Age UK (and other) care settings, very much enjoyed their social and creative group experience.
- 95% felt the sessions offered a pleasurable experience • 92% felt the sessions was a chance to socialise, chat and make friends • 85% felt the sessions motivated them to do more like today • 84% felt the session enhanced their sense of wellbeing
- The programme built the confidence of the volunteer team.
- The ongoing facilitated, peer support network meetings offered a powerful means for sharing volunteers’ insights, building their creative skills, stimulating innovation with knowledge sharing.
- It consolidated their friendship network which proved invaluable with the advent and shock of Covid-19 in March 2020
- Overall the programme provided a positive challenge to sustain the volunteers’ motivation and development and to build their confidence.
- The activities generated a sense of purpose for the volunteers, empowering them to support more, older people, reconnecting with some older people acquaintances from 2018 and meeting new people.
The programme evaluation summary can be viewed here Our Work of Art Rural Outreach 2019-2020
