Grand Day Out

Benefit of Arts and Crafts

Craft activities are particularly beneficial to older people and are recommended by NICE to promote independence and wellbeing in older people. Older adults who attend craft groups are less likely to have doctor-related visits and require less medication, resulting in cost-savings and reduced demand on health services. Craft groups help individuals build strong friendships, reducing social isolation and loneliness. Knitting has been shown to have benefits on multiple aspects of health including reducing depression and anxiety, slowing the onset of dementia, lowering blood pressure, reducing isolation and loneliness and increasing sense of inclusion in society.

Location

Beswick Library

60 Grey Mare Lane

Manchester

M11 3DS

Group meets every Thursday 14:00 – 16:00

(Reopens once library has opened)

Project team

Buzz

Manchester Wellbeing Fund

Aim

This project came together in 2017 as a Library initiative, the initial vision was an age friendly coffee, cake & art group.

I met Molly a key member of this group whilst at Beswick Library while I was holding Community Conversation, she talked about the group in question, her concerns & regrets she had regarding the group as it hasn’t expanded or drawn in new residents and all materials are purchased by the members, limiting the offering of the group to new members.

I held a meeting with all the members and we discussed what the members were interested in and with funding how would they like to shape their existing group. Overwhelmingly all members wanted a true arts & crafts which would include a variety of crafts leading to new skills. The group also wanted to hold monthly day trips in order to strengthen the friendship of the group and which would also attract new residents. Due to this it was apparent that the group would require funds so I helped them with their Wellbeing Fund Grant of £270.

A word from Molly

“Hi I am one of the women who attends the group and I just want to say that the 50 plus group “Grand Day Out” as we call ourselves want to acknowledge that since it started the numbers have expanded. Its going from strength to strength and that is due to the funding we received with the help from our buzz worker. Previously we did crafts and relied on each other to fund this activity. However we are now able to go out for days plus the theatre. We managed to buy a sewing machine which in turn has enabled group members that know how to sew teach others. Going out has been fantastic as it's helped the confidence of the woman and isolation is no more. It has increased self-worth. The day trips have promoted walking and gentle exercise and the group provides a safe place for women”.

Evaluation

Once the group were allocated funds, a variety of materials for crafts were purchased and the group became active on social media advertising, the groups existing membership expanded.

In addition to the a wide range of crafts to engage with or learn from an existing member, the group now offers day trips and offer holistic therapy, Indian head massage and aromatherapy on a monthly basis. The group comes together and decides as a group where they would like to go on the day trips, members have said this has helps them express themselves, think critically and become more diplomatic due to this process.

Strategic links to local/national policies

Research/evidence base

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing Inquiry Report (2017) - Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing

Burt, E. L. and Atkinson, J. (2012) The relationship between quilting and wellbeing, Journal of Public Health, Volume 34, Issue 1, Pages 54–59.

Cohen, G. (2009) New theories and research findings on the positive influence of music and art on health with ageing. Arts & Health, 1:1, 48-62.

Knit For Peace – The Health Benefits of Knitting

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2015). Older People: Independence and Mental Wellbeing. London: NICE.

Last updated: 28/07/20

Contact

Matthew Brown - Neighbourhood Health Worker

Matthew.brown@gmmh.nhs.uk

Tel: 0161 271 0564