A few weeks ago Yellow Jigsaw visited the Creative Mindfulness for Dementia Course to make a short film for the Dementia United website.
https://dementia-united.org.uk/news/
This years course is going very well. It is a lovely, big and enthusiastic group which this film shows!
This “excellent” course is back this year thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, Healthy Arts Power of Good, Wellbeing Activities project, Healthy Arts | Power of Good
Are you or someone you care for living with a Dementia diagnosis?
Would you like to live well with this disease, sooth your mind & body and have some fun?
The first Creative Mindfulness for Dementia Course in 2023, based on the renowned Breathworks Mindfulness for Stress was described as “excellent” and increased every participant’s sense of wellbeing. It includes learning skills to calm worry and anxiety, enjoyable creative activities, tea and cake in a small group.
“I have found it very useful; the course is very important in your everyday life”
Taking place over eight weeks it is FREE to attend for both you if diagnosed with Dementia or a family member, Carer or friend.
“Hi, I’m Cath the course teacher. I’m Breathworks trained and offering this course as I wish my Dad and I could have done this in the first few years of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.”
Thursdays 18th April-6th June/ 1-3pm
The Gold Room at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute, 1 Kirby Road, Leigh, WN7 4EF
Contact Cath for a chat about the course on,
Mobile-0798 4123 445 or Email-cathhawkins@yahoo.co.uk
“Overall, I think it was an excellent course”. Participant diagnosed with Dementia.
“All excellent”. Carer
In Spring, thanks to funding from the Breathworks Seed Fund, Dementia United, Big Brain Health Fund and The Deal Wigan, I offered a new adapted model of the Breathworks Mindfulness for Stress Course to an amazing group of people living with Dementia. One week of the course, Ginny Wall, who provided excellent supervision and support with planning suggested I ask people to bring in something that made them smile to explore ‘letting in the good’. The image above shows the beautiful saris, pebbles and funny, smiling little moving man that the group brought in. Another week we enjoyed wonderfully calming guitar and song from Corrie Shelley, which encouraged a member of the group to bring his guitar and and supply us with live music nearly every week. Writer Chris Harter also took away our writing from a session and returned some amazing poems.
How I See You
Breathing in the moment with courage and daring.
Loving in the moment with laughter and sharing.
Living in the moment with kindness and caring.
As you have probably guessed the course went very well. I want to thank Julie Phillips, my fellow Breathworks teacher who supported me, (don’t know what I would have done without her!) as a volunteer. Leigh Youth Hub was also a great venue.
Here are some more quotes from the evaluation:
“I felt the course very interesting and unusual. I feel relaxed and it kept me interested right through”. Participant diagnosed with Dementia.
“I have found it very useful, the course is very important in your everyday life”. Carer
“Everyone has been loving and caring, restful and calm. Going to miss our Wednesday afternoon”. Carer
“Venue all fab, easy access, light and airy. Tea, cake and strawberries lovely. Timing just right”. Carer
Finally some quantitative evaluation:
WHO-5 Well-being Index/Completed Pre and Post Course:
4 Participants with a Dementia diagnosis began the course with an average well-being score of 35%. This rose to 57% at end of course, a 22% rise in sense of wellbeing.
3 Carer Participants began the course with an average wellbeing score of 25%. This rose to 65% at end of course, 40% rise in sense of wellbeing. 2 Carers sense of wellbeing score more than doubled by end of course.
With funding from, so far, the National Lottery Community Fund, I am inspired to offer the course again in Spring 2024.
Many thanks to everyone involved!
I am really excited to be offering this new course soon!
Are you living with a Dementia diagnosis?
Do you know or care for someone affected by Dementia? Would you like to live well with this disease, soothe your mind and body and have some fun?
Creative Mindfulness for Dementia is a new opportunity, based on the renowned Breathworks Mindfulness for Stress course. It will include learning skills to calm worry and anxiety, enjoyable creative activities and tea and cake in a small group. Taking place over eight weeks it is FREE to attend whether you are diagnosed with Dementia or a family member, Carer or friend.
“Hi, I’m Cath the course teacher. I’m Breathworks trained and offering this course as I wish my Dad and I could have done this in the first few years of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.”
Contact Cath for a chat about the course on,
Mobile-0798 4123 445 or Email-cathhawkins@yahoo.co.uk
When-Wednesday, 1-3.30pm, 26th April-14th June
Where-Leigh Youth Hub, Sale Way, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, WN7 4JY
Breathworks Accredited Teacher
Supported by the Breathworks Seed Fund, Dementia United Big Brain Health Fund and The Deal, Wigan.
Thanks to funding from the Dementia United, Carers Groups Bounce Back Fund the Mindfulness Group can continue into the spring and summer, Carers and those affected by Dementia can enjoy FREE sessions and everyone can experience the benefits of a number of wellbeing trips. The Group recently enjoyed a relaxing visit to The Monastery, Manchester.
“The trip to Gorton was beautiful, Catherine. Thank you for arranging it.“
Over the coming months we will be continuing the Tuesday afternoon sessions in Leigh at Kingsleigh Methodist Church, taking another trip to The Wellbeing Program at RHS Bridgewater, taking part in the Healthy Arts ‘This Mine Is Yours’ project at Lancashire Mining Museum, Astley Green and enjoying getting outdoors practicing mindfulness. Get in contact if you would like to come along.