South Tyneside Older People's Project

[South Tyneside] 2009 onwards

Funded by the Adult and Community Learning Team at South Tyneside Council, we are developing a pilot programme of arts activities with vulnerable and frail older people in South Tyneside.

The core aims are to:

• encourage service users/residents to try new things;
• help combat depression, anxiety and a sense of worthlessness;
• undertake one-to-one rehabilitation work which can help manage people's transition back into independent living and provide ongoing access to cultural activities;
• involve families in the work of the day care centres.

Claire Webster Saaremets from Skimstone led the delivery of creative workshops at the Father James Walsh Day Care Centre and Beech Street Residential Care Home over a 20-week period. The activity was very well received and resulted in a series of photographs, texts and a short film, collectively entitled Fish and the Yesterday Song, exhibited at The Customs House in South Shields, South Shields Central Library, and both care centres.