Down to a fine art – Dorset care home takes part in the world’s largest drawing festival

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Dec 09, 2019

Residents at a care home in Ferndown picked up their pencils for The Big Draw Festival 2019.

Care UK’s Ferndown Manor, on Golf Links Road, joined in the celebrations by creating works of art around this year’s theme, ‘drawn to life’.

The residents found their inner artist to create detailed drawings of still life objects.

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.

Robin Hill, customer relations manager at Ferndown Manor, said: “Many residents at Ferndown Manor 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 create some beautiful pieces of art. We certainly have some budding artists in the making!”

Ferndown Manor, which features 75 ensuite bedrooms, is a state-of-the-art home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, hairdressing salon and café, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, 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 please email customer relations manager, Robin Hill, at robin.hill@careuk.com or call 01202 069 371.

For more general information about Ferndown Manor, please visit careuk.com/ferndown-manor

To find out more about The Big Draw Festival, please go to thebigdraw.org