Charise-Activity Coordinator, pictured (looking a bit like a Mary Poppins!) is excited to be launching the sculptures which they have all made at Melbourne House. Friends & family came to join in too!

Our local City Councillor - Councillor Jenkins came along to support our event, it was great to have him involved in 'the action'

This was a national art activity throughout October, that all our Homes and Activity Co-ordinators participated in – using cost effective telephone wire which is light and easy to use to mould into individual sculptures. 'Following a great days training we felt this idea could work for us and be less intimidating for a lot of people who dont like drawing' Charise then came up with this great idea to provide more of an event and launch by balloon. Pictured Care Worker Amary trying her hand.

 Madaline (who celebrated a BIG birthday earlier this year) and her daughter get wiring, quite a fiddly job, but they both managed to create something!

 The challenge is to get the most participants for a Care Home setting, so we are now counting up.

We had help from Nottingham Confetti with filming this event and would like to say thank you to them for their very responsive reaction getting photographer Mikey along, he made a fantastic effort and contributed really well to the activity.

Sculpture ready for launch.

Charise smiles with relief to 'see off' the Big Draw!

 Mikey prepares for filming.

Kerry pictured gets ready for a double twist, not only do they twist the wire to make individual sculptures, they are going to launch them into the sky with Helium.

The Big Draw is the world’s biggest celebration of drawing. It has grown into a month-long festival running throughout October in all parts of the UK. Every year more organisers across the world join the Big Draw family and run drawing events to engage their communities in creative activities.

 Some of the wire creations made by residents, staff and visitors to the Care Home.

 'I went round the home and asked the residents what would they like to make, to join in this event and a lot of them said hearts and flowers as they felt this would go with theme of using the tree in the garden as part of the sculpture' said Kerry

I managed to get most of the residents to participate, lots of the staff and visitors too. We then recorded this in our own Big Draw book.

We at all our Care Homes are entering the Big Draw Contest - it is a national art activity that all our Homes and Activity Co-ordinators can participate in and ‘enjoy’

Our Big Draw will be wire based – using cost effective telephone wire which is light and easy to use for ‘all’ , however due to a ‘run’ on this product we now have to have wire shipped in from New York!

The wire can be moulded into individual sculptures, which will then be launched by helium balloon or made into garden sculptures at Alexandra House.

It is an inclusive activity, so that we can encourage our residents, relatives, friends & families, staff, adult services, doctors, Councillors………………………………. everyone who comes in the care home!

Kaerre does the long draw at Art in Care training, Rufford Craft Centre

Following an enlightening day of creativity at Nottingham’s Rufford Abbey Activities Coordinator Charise Mullins said ‘This is something we can share with our residents and staff - art is second nature for some, but the artist award will help involve all. Nine art works in 90 minutes certainly gave ‘us’ something to take home from Rufford!’

Pictured below; Lorraine & Charise, Activities Coordinators & Helen Ackroyd - Rufford Craft Centre Event Manager

City Arts in conjunction with Nottingham County Council decided to explore creative approaches to enhancing the wellbeing of older people in residential care in Nottinghamshire, by appointing an Artist in Residence at a suitable Care Home – Alexandra House. An additional part of the project is to report and disseminate the development of this work across the County. The project is likely to commence in November when ‘the artist in residence’ takes up the position.

‘To have an artist work with us and our residents is of great significance for our Activities personnel, residents and families –to explore together how creative ideas can enhance the care environment will be a special experience. We will make the most of this by sharing it across our four Care Homes’. Sue Young – HR. Manager Eastgate Care

Drawing using foot;

Art at the Belle Vue Lodge Care Home.

 Art in CareTraining at Rufford Craft Centre.

A marquee erected – to provide shelter and ‘just in case the summer weather did its ‘usual’ however  we were incredibly lucky with the weather and it was a beautiful warm day. This enabled the residents to be outside with their families, which made a welcome change for them adding to their pleasure.

A range of activities and a great entertainer – Frankie Fortune – got everyone outdoors, friends, family and staff revelled in the event.

The highlight pictured below artist- 'Frankie Fortune' - a professional entertainer. He provided lots to watch with an act consisting of Music, Magic, Puppets, Percy the Parrot and Grandad, Memory games, jokes and plenty of old songs.

Activity Co-ordinator Becky made the event a musical delight, with her 'voice of an angel' singing a whole range of songs -tunes  that our residents could recall and sing along too, really lifting the spirits.

 It was so uplifting that it made you want to dance! & dance they did.

Pictured left Becky serenading, adjacent to the tombola,

which staff organised, boosting the relatives fund by £120.