Chester care home residents take part in national art initiative

For this year’s ‘Field of Flowers’ theme, the City Road village’s customers got together for a fun session with an array of pens, pencils, and paints to bring to life their ideas. Supported by the dedicated experience team, conversation focusing on reminiscence proved popular, with happy times involving flowers and nature shared, including weddings, family visits to parks and gardening achievements. Meanwhile, children in the care village’s integrated nursery had their own take on the project, focusing on the flowers of autumn for their version.

Erika Armstrong, experience coordinator at Belong Chester, explains: "The arts form a big part of our experience programme for our customers. The advantages of using creative expression for meaningful occupation is that everyone can take part, whatever their ability, and it provides sensory-rich experiences with a sense of purpose and achievement for the creator."

Promoted by the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA), the National Day of Arts in Care Homes is funded by The Baring Foundation and The Rayne Foundation, and is designed to encourage and champion arts engagement in care settings, highlighting the wellbeing benefits for all involved.

Barbara begins her painting at Belong Chester. (Image: Belong Chester)

The initiative complements Belong’s care strategy, advocating an active later life, which also includes health and fitness planning with in-house exercise specialists, and opportunities to network with schools and businesses and be involved in community projects and events.

Its ongoing four-year relationship with Bluecoat, Liverpool’s contemporary arts centre, for example, has seen a number of positive wellbeing outcomes recognised by academics as renowned artists work alongside Belong’s customers in their homes.

Erika continues: "It’s been wonderful participating in National Day of Arts in Care Homes. Though the arts are already well-embedded in our approach to care, we’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to share in this national event and our customers loved bringing this year’s theme to life.

"Whether it’s the engagement in an activity, the pleasure of watching a performer, or the sharing of creative ideas with schoolchildren, we know that the arts play an important role in enhancing lives by increasing self-esteem and engendering a strong sense of belonging."