Healthy Arts
People: Helping older people feel connected
We wish to organise activities requested by regular participants, wellbeing trips and local history speakers, and support weekly session costs, especially room hire, so people can continue meeting.
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About this cause
Healthy Arts is a group of professional artists with a wide range of practical experience of working creatively within the Leigh and Wigan community. We put people first and build our projects around them. Whatever they want to learn, explore or experience we will find a way to achieve it. We facilitate workshops and create performances in a wide range of venues from libraries and community centres to schools, churches, cafes, mills and museums. Our work with older people in two popular Tuesday sessions, Memorable Leigh and Mindfulness and Movement, is close to our hearts. People who are disabled, have long-term health conditions or are carers living with dementia have been meeting to reminisce about local history and enjoy gentle movement and calming meditations for a number of years.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Our ‘Power of Good’ sessions for older people will help participants feel less isolated as they join with others to enjoy interests that they say do them “the power of good”. A carer living with dementia, feeling anxious, can join a session including calming meditations and ways to ease stress. A disabled widow can explore history and have a friendly chat about what they have achieved in their lives. Regular positive, enjoyable connections with others will address the need for ongoing wellbeing support for our elders. Sessions will connect people to wider Healthy Arts activities, festivals, new interests, places to visit and new friends. One participant has said “I really look forward to Tuesday afternoons. They are like an oasis of calm mixed with a friendly and warm atmosphere.”