Make Sense
Kentish Town Health Centre
Through Local Giving’s ‘Magic Little Grants’ we were able to fund four ‘Make Sense’ workshops for 12 participants at Kentish Town Health Centre, part of the James Wigg GP Practice.
Having spent the previous few weeks working three-dimensionally, this series of workshops focused on print-making and included paper marbling, foam block printing, stencilling symbols and nature printing. The workshops notably embodied bright colours through the use of flourescent dyes and inks. While during the symbol making workshop we engaged in fascinating conversation driven by variety of cultures present in the room, including 4 different religions.
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Being involved in creative expression at the James Wigg has been beneficial for Raj. It is well organised with good energy. Melissa is attentive and helpful. And is great at working through the process and progression of Raj’s dementia. People engage, move, share and laugh. Ewa
Partner of Raj
Nature printing gave the group a chance to engage in our seasonal exploration the garden at the James Wigg GP practice. For us this meant exploring it at the end of summer. This is a highly sensory activity that initially involves touching and smelling the plants, before finally experiencing strong visual stimulation through the print making process. It is never unsurprising the level of detail which printing the surface of the leaves reveals.
During these sessions, we were pleased to have regular involvement of carers and companions. Not only do they support in our communication with the participants living with dementia, but they also get the chance to involve in the creative activities themselves. This participation is beneficial on two levels: most obviously as creative expression, but also as a preventive measure to experiencing dementia themselves. Many of the carers are 50+, and therefore also approaching vulnerability. We know that sensory stimulation is valuable way to create new pathways in the brain, especially if the activity is unfamiliar to them, ultimately helping to slow the effects of early onset.
These workshops have been made possible by Magic Little Grants.
