Down to a fine art – local children join Bury St Edmunds care home for the world’s largest drawing f

Home news

Nov 15, 2019

Residents at two care homes in Bury St Edmunds picked up their pencils and welcomed local youngsters for The Big Draw Festival 2019.

Care UK’s Glastonbury Court, on Glastonbury Road, and Davers Court, on Shakers Lane, joined in the celebrations by creating works of art around this year’s theme, ‘drawn to life’.

Welcoming the Bury St Edmunds Brownies Group, residents and children at Glastonbury Court took part in a painting and drawing session centred around their favourite things to do with their family.

Residents and the team at Davers Court were visited by Hazelwood Dance School, who performed at the home and acted as the subject of resident’s paintings.

Launched in 2000 as part of the ‘Campaign for Drawing’, The Big Draw promotes drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and has encouraged over four million people to get arty since its inception. This year’s theme celebrates the benefits of creative activities, especially drawing, on health and wellbeing. 2019 also marks the bicentenary of John Ruskin’s birth, founder of the Guild of St George, the charitable education trust behind the initiative.

Sharlene Van Tonder, home manager at Glastonbury Court and Davers Court, said: “Many residents at Glastonbury Court and Davers Court have a keen interest in creative activities, so The Big Draw Festival provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase these skills.

“Drawing has many benefits for residents, especially those living with dementia, as it offers an alternative way to communicate and a chance to relive happy memories.

“It was great to see residents and local youngsters work together to create some beautiful pieces of art. We certainly have some budding artists in the making!”

Glastonbury Court and Davers Court are modern care homes, providing full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care homes have their very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation.

Recognising the importance of artistic activities, Care UK was happy to become one of the lead sponsors for The Big Draw this year alongside organisations such as The Courtauld Institute of Art and the City of Toronto Museum. You can read more about Care UK’s national involvement here: thebigdraw.org/drawn-to-life-care-uk

For more information on Glastonbury Court or Davers Court, please call senior business administrator, Lottie Linton on 01284 848 709 for Glastonbury Court, or 01284 847 868 for Davers Court, or email lottie.linton@careuk.com

For general information, please visit careuk.com/glastonbury-court or careuk.com/davers-court

To find out more about the Big Draw festival, please go to thebigdraw.org