ANGEL by Theatre Hullabaloo!!

Angel was developed in collaboration with Age UK and it was a fascinating story based on the struggle of living with dementia at home. How do we educate and reduce stigma to allow individuals at home to get help?

If you havent had chance to see it - there is still time:http://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/shows-detail.asp?showid=80

Victoria House Care Centre, Middlesbrough

This week i have began at Victoria House Care Centre in Middlesbrough...i am looking forward to getting my teeth stuck in and really making a change in activities and creativity for all the residents...watch this space =)

Fusion Cafe, Stockton

Today i went to the Fusion Cafe in Stockton, which is a cafe for individuals with cognitive impairments such as Dementia. It takes place on the last Friday of every month and is a social event with activities slotted in too!! What a fabulous set up and a great place to meet others who in a similar situation.

Creative Legacy Project in the North East

Yesterday was the day all bodies of the Creative Legacy project came together to discuss the last details for the start of the project. I met with Ascot Care Home in Linthorpe to understand what to facilitate and design for each legacy day. This project will be in rememberance of Mary Passman. Five care homes will come together at Nunthorpe Hall, monthly to encourage creativity in dementia facilties but to also train and assist staff to confidently deliver the sessions themselves.I am really looking forward to getting this project underway!!

Culture Code Boutique - MIMA

I attended the Culture Code Boutique on Wednesday at MIMA which is a new initiative to inspire the North East to share ideas. Mass Innovation was discussed in great detail from various speakers in the technology world - and i came away with absolute awe!Eyewriter.org - was a fascinating project, as a man who was paralysed was able to draw graffiti again using the movement of his retina. The social impact was huge with interactive drawings on local buildings, whilst he was lying in his bed.The Twitter Project in which tracking of individual travel is recorded and similar messages such as 'Good Morning'. - The stats are fascinating!!

To find out more about Culture Code, see below:http://www.culturecode.co.uk/events/boutique

Yew Tree Care Centre - Gazette Write Up!!

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/02/21/residents-enjoy-fun-crafts-84229-30369495/

Another fantastic write up – and what a great day we all had at Yew Tree Care Centre in Redcar!

Open Clasp Theatre Presents: Swags and Tails!!

Tonight i had the amazing opportunity of watching the Open Clasp Theatre company present 'Swags and Tails'. It was out of this world..and took the audience on a range of emotions, from humour to sadness and power.

The Background of the Play:
Meet Gloria, her past eroded during years living in dementia units, Mary, the care-worker getting it from all angles and housebound Lillian, locked in her own spare room with only 8 bottles of Sloe Gin for company. Faced with the closure of their day centre will Ellen and Marlene unite and make a last stand?

What a fantastic way of engaging today's culture and changing the stigma associated with dementia!

If you haven't managed to see 'Swags and Tails' - there is still time!!!
Visit: http://openclasp.org.uk/

Belmont View Creativity!

What a fantastic afternoon getting creative with Belmont View Care Home in Guisborough...it is so great to see everyone leaving with a big smile =)...

Storybox Development / Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Project, Manchester

This week...had also been the beginning of planning and ideas for the Storybox Project - a collaborative project between the Cornerhouse and The Library Theatre in Manchester, developing stimulating arts activities for individuals with Dementia...

Very excited about this project!!

Poetry Outcomes...based on Identity Objects.

Sleep,

It smells nice,
Nothing smells like a
smell,
A different thing
altogether,
A pretty Colour,
Blue Die,
Nothing in Particular,
Shampoo,
It’s nice,
Nice yeah Nice,
Ready for Bed,
Very Boring,
Getting the things ready,




It’s lovely,
Can I have it?
Lovely work,
Cashmere keeps coming up,
Redcar High Street is not
the place,
I think I would wear it as
an old fashioned dress,
Gorgeous,
I like the lace and
buttons,
I used to love buttons,
It’s lovely though, I love
the colour,
Nice materials and
stiffeners,
A blouse,
Bars to keep it nice,
It certainly looks like a
piece of work,
I’d give you money for it,
You wouldn’t find it for
sale,
It makes you think of
persons,
Looking nice for a special
occasion,
Wonderful





Yes,
It’s brown, but its, it’s
a brown polish,
Nice polish,
It’s a kind of polish,
Boot polish,
Happy smell,
Boot polish,
Not if I could help,
Reminds me of something,
I like the smell,
It’s a clean smell,
We went hiking, I would
have a bath and my husband would polish the boots




It would be dead to loose
it,
Be nice on a coat,
Nice and Warm,
I used to be a tailor,
We didn’t have fur, but
would like to think it was on a coat,
It doesn’t feel like real
fur,
Its n ice though,
I would say so,
Could imagine coats,
Nice and soft,
It is lovely

Our Creative Elders in the North East...

As a group, we explored sensory based activities from sculpture and
poetry...incorporating lots of personal stories and visions.

See below for the extraudinary hand casts that were produced...not only do
they show identity but the lines of life...a story can be told about looking at
someones hands..

Inspiring Conference yesterday on: www.mirror-project.eu

Using inner 'Creativity' to inspire wider collaborative working between staff. The I Pod Touch is set up using 'Mirror' Apps to send queries to a larger network, these are then responded to via Discovery Databases...This project is designed for maximum use and sustainability - Care Staff can now network more effectively!!

Check out their fantastic work: www.mirror-project.eu
Follow their work on Twitter: @NeilMaiden