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Art Carers Dementia Mindfulness Movement

Creative Mindfulness for Dementia Course Is Back!

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

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Carers Dementia Mindfulness Movement

Good News!

We are part of the Healthy Arts-Power of Good Wellbeing Activities Project funded by the National Lottery, Community Fund. So, Mindfulness weekly sessions, trips and course are on and all FREE for Carers and people living with Dementia.

Sessions restart on 19th September and run up until 5th December.

This weekly session is open to anyone. Come regularly or drop in when you can on Tuesdays, 1.30-2.30pm at Kingsleigh Methodist Church, Leigh, WN7 4LR. Enjoy a de-stress with short and longer restful meditations and gentle tension releasing movement in a friendly group.

Session’s cost: £6/£5 Conc, Drinks and biscuits are free.

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Art Carers Dementia Mindfulness Movement

Creative Mindfulness for Dementia

“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!

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Art Carers Dementia Mindfulness Movement Nature

Creative Mindfulness for Dementia

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.

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Art Mindfulness Nature

Mindfulness Group, Getting Out More!

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.

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Mindfulness

New Year, New Course

Introduction to Mindfulness

Interested in learning more about Mindfulness in the New Year?

This short course, based on the Breathworks (Breathworks – Mindfulness and Compassion Training) approach will introduce you to skills to live a happier and more fulfilled life especially if you feel stress, anxiety or have a long-term health condition. It is suitable for complete beginners, those who want to learn more, use it in their work or wish to refresh their meditation practice. In a small group you will experience how Mindfulness can change your whole perspective on life.

You have the option to attend this course in two ways:

Via Zoom, 1-2.30pm Wednesday 19th, 26th January & 2nd February or

In person, 6.30-8pm, Thursday 3rd, 10th & 17th February, at Kingsleigh Methodist Church, Leigh, WN7 4LR.

The course cost will be £30/£25 conc, and FREE places are available for Carers or those affected by Dementia thanks to funding from Dementia Friendly Communities.

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Mindfulness

Mindfulness for Health

Earlier this year I was awarded a Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre Training Grant (Wigan Council) to run a Breathworks 8-week Mindfulness for Health Course specifically for Carers with WLCC, in a Leigh venue over September and October. I’m thrilled to be teaching this course that I attended as a participant in 2018, thinking that I would give it a try and doubting it would make a difference to my health. It did make a huge difference to my health and wellbeing! I’m so glad Carers registered with WLCC can do this course for FREE!

Places are limited so follow this link for all the information and booking:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wigan-and-leigh-carers-centre/mindfulness-for-carers-health-8-week-course/e-gvqemq

See my Mindfulness page for the great feedback Carers gave about the Mindfulness for Stress Course I taught with WLCC earlier this year.

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Mindfulness

New

Free Taster Sessions & 8-week MfS Course

Give Mindfulness a try…..

2 Free Taster Sessions:

Tuesday 22nd June 2-3pm, Online (Via Zoom)

Tuesday 29th June 2-3pm

Kingsleigh Methodist Church, 73 King Street, Leigh, WN7 4LR

“Happiness and calm are skills that can be learned, just like driving or dancing and can stay with you for a lifetime.” Breathworks

Learn skills to become less stressed on the …..

Mindfulness for Stress: 8-week Course

Boost your well-being, discover new sources of resilience, joy, calm and cope better with anxiety and the stress of everyday life. During this proven course you will learn the foundations of mindfulness and meditation, beginning a practice that will change the quality of your life.

Course fees begin at under £14 per session (concession) and subsidies available.

Wednesday 21st July-8th September

1-3.30pm

Old Grammar School, 55 Railway Road, Leigh, WN7 4AD

All opportunities are perfect for complete beginners or those who wish to refresh their meditation practice.

Places are limited, booking essential. For more information contact Cath:

Email: cathhawkins@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 0798 4123 445

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Mindfulness

WLCC Event

I’m looking forward to leading two Mindfulness taster sessions at this event in June. I can start letting people know about the courses and weekly sessions I am planning for later this year. Feels like Spring!