Ready, set, draw – Dorset care home residents take part in worldwide art festival

Home news

Nov 24, 2020

Residents at two care homes in Dorset picked up their pencils and went back to the drawing board for The Big Draw Festival 2020.

Care UK’s The Potteries in Poole and Ferndown Manor in Ferndown, celebrated all things nature by creating works of art around this year’s theme, ‘a Climate of Change’.  

Residents at the Potteries researched the effects humans are having on the environment, and drew their vision of the world should climate change continue to progress at the same rate. The art session was a great conversation starter for residents, who enjoyed the discussions surrounding their artworks, which are now displayed in the home for everyone to appreciate.

Ferndown Manor residents created a collage focused on autumnal wildlife, and drew animals including hedgehogs, squirrels and robins, using leaves they collected from the home’s garden as a background.

Launched in 2000 as part of the ‘Campaign for Drawing’, the month-long Big Draw Festival promotes drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and has encouraged over four million people to get arty since its inception.

‘A Climate of Change’, this year’s theme, focused on the relationship between people and their environment, and offered a great opportunity for older people to reminisce about their favourite nature spots, as well as trips to the great outdoors in their younger years, and how our focus looking after our planet has changed in recent years. 

Zita Turner, Home Manager at The Potteries, said: “It was wonderful to take part in The Big Draw for the second year running – everyone had a great time putting their drawing skills to the test.

“Creative activities play a big part of life here at The Potteries, and we actively encourage residents to continue lifelong arty hobbies and to try new and expressive pastimes. Drawing has a variety of benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it provides an alternative way to communicate and express emotions, and an opportunity to relive happy memories.

“It was a fantastic drawing session, and everyone left with a smile on their face – we’re all looking forward to getting our pencils out again very soon!”

After a successful participation in the Big Draw Festival last year, Care UK renewed its partnership in 2020, becoming the main health and social care partner and leading the way in changing perceptions of life in a care home by promoting activity-based care and encouraging other care homes to follow suit. Across the country, more than 70 Care UK homes have been getting arty and working with their local communities virtually to create works of art around the theme ‘A Climate of Change’.

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 the 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 in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation.

The Potteries is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia 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 and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation. The home has a comprehensive activity programme, offering a mix of themed events, group activities and days out.

For more information, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Caroline Hearne, at caroline.hearne@careuk.com, or phone 01202 069 835.

For more information about Ferndown Manor, email customer relations manager, Robin Hill on Robin.hill@careuk.com or call 01202 06 9371.

To find out more about Care UK’s partnership with the Big Draw, and for more top tips on how you and your loved ones can get involved at home, visit careuk.com/care-homes/bigdraw

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