Young @ Art
Young @ Art is a group of elders who meet weekly on Thursday afternoons and take part in arts activities, reminiscence work, complementary therapies, outings and events. Centre staff escort group members from home.
Arts activities covered include painting, silk-screen painting, drawing, pottery and others. These activities have been led by professional artists who have had training in reminiscence work.
In addition, elders take part in complementary therapy sessions provided by professional therapists from Inside Out, including reflexology and hand massage. These sessions can be very popular!
The group take part in outings, including to tea dances, a family Eid party at the Marner Children’s Centre, Stanton (a country house social enterprise in the Cotswolds set up by Centre founder Andrew Mawson), the Centre’s Passover and Bangladesh Independence Day celebrations and the Eat London festival.
“I never would have expected I would end up here. I was born in a Welsh mining village, then moved to Worcestershire, and now here [Ann moved to London at the age of 85]. But the group’s helped me settle in London. I thought this was the last thing I’d do.”
Anne, 92.
“My social worker… says I shouldn’t go out on my own. But I go crazy stuck indoors. I want someone to talk to. But I don’t have friends. That’s why I come here, for the company.”
Group member, aged 89
Read Rose's story.
The Young @ Art group is generously supported by The City Bridge Trust.
