Whoooooooosh.....that was it; that was the Summer! The last few months flew past like a non-stop train. So on to the latest news before we find ourselves celebrating a new year.
National Lottery Awards - Best Health Project
Firstly, a huge "Thank you!" to everyone who voted for the Creative Spaces in the National Lottery Awards this summer. Sadly we were not one of the final three but it was a huge compliment to be shortlisted by a panel of judges and we're very proud of that. It was a testament to all the hard work that everyone put into the project.
Has Creative Spaces finished?
Well, the Reaching Communities grant has finished and it's amazing to see the overall achievements from the past 3 years. We have engaged over 200 older people with dementia in activities and outdoor environments with over 60 young people. As a result they have felt less isolated and anxious and become more engaged with their communities, whilst the young people have increased their understanding of dementia and made real friendships with them.
Over 600 carers (professional and non professional) attended workshops, events and presentations and gained more experience of using outdoor environments to support dementia care and social integration. Nearly 350 people from local communities joined in events, activities and day trips; gaining a better understanding of dementia and how people with dementia can play active roles within their community.
Our resources, publications and activity sheets were disseminated out to just under 2000 people - including care professionals, relatives, care volunteers, landscape architects and garden designers as well as other professionals. Articles written for national publications reached a much wider audience.
Add to that observations and accounts of reduced anxiety and improved sleep in residents; of friendships formed, fears banished, skills discovered and people generally feeling more supported and valued. That kind of impact you can't put a figure on. All in all, 3 years well spent.
But the story is not over..........
Creative Spaces Part II
......it continues in the form of Supporting Change and Impact grants from the Big Lottery; providing a further 12 months funding to take the process and activities used in care homes out into the community to support home carers and people with dementia living at home.
It's a new project but as it's developed from our previous work, we're keeping the name! New resources are being developed, along with guidance materials for home and community carers. Community events will take place and a local support network established.
Hollywood here we come!
It's all about camera angles, lighting and story-telling at the moment. There's soon to be a short film about the project itself; covering the garden design, activities and community engagement and we already have a 3 minute film on YouTube, entitled Ernie and Ethan - just two lovely chaps (one aged 91, the other aged 14) talking about their friendship and involvement in the project. You can view it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1BkUUhC8Bw
Remember our call for applications to produce films from poems? (Dementia Uncovered' post; April 2012). The 7 commissioned artists have produced 4 films, 2 animations and a digital image for us and we can't wait to show them publicly. There are no set dates yet but we expect them to be ready by the middle of this month and you'll be able to view them through our website, YouTube, at various community events and conferences as well as this year's Cornwall Film Festival in November.
Watch this space for a red carpet.
And finally...
I'd like to end this post with a tribute to Ernie who passed away this summer at the grand age of 91. Ernie participated in the project from the beginning. He loved his chrysanthemums, loved being outdoors and loved the company of others. He broke into a song about apples at Heligan Gardens and at the Eden Project he regaled us with stories of distilling wine down to pure alcohol as a young man in the army. It was a pleasure to be in his company and, although he is sadly missed, will always be remembered with great affection every time we see his Chrysanthemums bloom in the garden.
