#AnACE2017 – Creative Ageing Projects

As the chaos of Christmas begins to subside and 2018 rapidly approaches, we thought we would take some time to look back over some highlights of our Courtyard year. 2017 has been a bumper year for our Creative Ageing Team here at The Courtyard with so much happening that we have to split it over two days! This year has seen the start of lots of new projects and workshops alongside regular classes. 

Creative Community Champions 

This year The Creative Ageing team launched their latest project, Creative Community Champions. This scheme gives activity co-ordinators who work with older people the opportunity to learn new creative skills ranging from block printing to mosaic making that they can then take back to their groups and share. Not only that, The Courtyard also has a variety of kits that can be loaned out to the groups for them to try out. The project has proved incredibly successful with over twenty people signing up in the first six months alone.

Dementia Friendly Film Screenings 

Another popular activity this year has been our Dementia Friendly Film Screenings which have included Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Calamity Jane. These screenings are less formal and guests are welcome to move around and help themselves to refreshments. The lights are left slightly on, the volume is reduced and guests sit around tables. The next Dementia Friendly Film Screening is The Sound of Music on Friday 16 March at 2pm.

Miss Kitty’s Spectacular Tea Dance 

A brand new addition to The Creative Ageing calendar is a fantastic new Tea Dance! Led by the fabulous Miss Kitty, older people can come together and listen to music, enjoy tea and cake and even take to the floor in this afternoon of fun. The first dance was held at Remember Me and proved so popular that another was organised for Christmas time. Sleeping Beauty’s Dame Nancy Sonata joined the Creative Ageing Team, who were all dressed up in festive attire to lead the group in carols. Dame Nancy also then joined in with the Chance to Dance Group in a fan dance.

To see a full list of events organized by our Creative Ageing Team please click here