A Cheshire care home is appealing for local artisans, painters, poets and musicians to support its planned new art workshops
A Cheshire care home is appealing for local artisans, painters, poets and musicians to support its planned new art workshops. Julie Sheridan, manager of Redwalls Nursing Home, in Sandiway, aims to transform the lives of her residents through exposure to and participation in all types of art. She said: “The magical power of art and music to improve people’s sense of wellbeing was highlighted in a document entitled The Art of Being Outstanding published by the National Care Forum last year. “It focuses on the role art has played in care homes achieving outstanding Care Quality Commission ratings.
“I have looked at the work that has been done in some of these homes and the key focus was making a difference to people’s lives which I passionately want to here at Redwalls.” She is keen to invite local artists to come to the home to paint and draw and to allow residents to join in, supported where necessary by staff. As part of her commitment to music in care homes, she successfully launched a choir at Redwalls last year with staff and residents joining in. “I now want to invite musicians to come and practise here so we can share the sound and join in at times. We already have a young man who will be coming to play his cello and our piano as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme,” she said.
“We would also love to invite quilters here to enhance our already growing interest in patchwork and quilting. We have made some fabulous quilts and raffled them.” Mrs. Sheridan said the Kingsley Healthcare run home had also acquired a spinning wheel and they had some fleece from her mother’s smallholding. “I will try to get a local spinning group to meet here,” she said.
Anyone interested in taking part in the home’s workshops, starting in August, is invited to call Mrs. Sheridan on 01606-889339. “I would also be happy to invite any artisans who would like to share their work by displaying it here,” she said.
