Skill Sharing and Training Day

We recently held one of our training and skill sharing days for Arts Together artists and volunteers. It was a great turnout with over 30 participants and for some an opportunity to meet up for the first time. These are important opportunities to get together, learn from one another and to re-engage with the charities aims and ethos.

These are all amazing human beings; generously giving and sharing their time, skills and compassion towards the support of vulnerable older people. It is a joy and privilege to know and work alongside them all.

During the day we reviewed the values that we consider essential to the future of Arts Together and how these are enabled through the actions we undertake. These values included words like – caring, friendship, self-esteem, respect, creative stimulation, trust, patience, humour, well-being and positivity. Not a bad list?

Some of the artists led us through scenarios that we may encounter when working with the group members and the challenges presented by dementia, anxiety, depression, arthritis and macular degeneration. It is in these situations that the volunteers really shine in their ability to work alongside participants and so enabling them to have a positive, fulfilling experience.

We also had updates on the new guidelines on food allergies, some useful insights into working with adults with dementia from Jane at Alzheimers Support, and a consultation on the future development planned for the Arts Together website and this blog. Overall it was a very successful day…and of course there was lunch!