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

Home news

Dec 16, 2020

Residents at a care home in Leatherhead picked up their pencils and went back to the drawing board for The Big Draw Festival 2020.

Care UK’s Milner House, on Ermyn Way, celebrated all things nature by creating works of art around this year’s theme, ‘a Climate of Change’.

Residents at Milner House created artwork inspired by wildlife found in the home’s garden, painting flowers, butterflies and trees and created collages using pictures cut out of magazines and newspapers.

The care home residents also participated in an exclusive live drawing session, hosted by former Disney illustrator and Big Draw Ambassador Gary Andrews. Gary shared his tried and tested drawing techniques virtually, and showed residents how to draw some of the world’s endangered animals, including sea turtles, tigers and puffins.

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, focuses 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 youngers years, and how our focus on looking after our planet has changed in recent years. 

Sandra Roche, Home Manager at Milner House, said: “It was wonderful to take part in The Big Draw – everyone had a great time putting their drawing skills to the test.

“Creative activities play a big part in life here at Milner House, 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.

“The virtual art class with Gary was a real highlight for residents. We certainly have some budding artists and we look forward to displaying our works of art around the home.”

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’.

Milner House care home provides full-time residential, dementia, nursing and short-term respite care. The home, which features 46 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own hair salon, beautiful gardens and café.

To find out more about Milner House, please call 01372 278 992 or email Roy Booth, Customer Relations Manager: roy.booth@careuk.com

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