Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies (360G-BirminghamCC-100883)

BCAT is currently working with seven established community organisations, which it refers to as “community assets” in Northfield, providing what it describes as “creative mental health support that fills the gap that assets cannot provide themselves for various reasons.” It is seeking funding to continue to provide such activities to older people accessing the seven organisations and to explore partnerships with new settings in Northfield. Support will be delivered in the form of creative community workshops which assist participants in discussing and understanding differences, building skills and friendships and gaining valuable opportunities to socialise, be creative and have fun with new art therapies. Applicant describes benefits to existing older participants which include improved mobility and mental health, self-esteem and confidence. Such activities can also be beneficial to older participants who are recovering from, or living with, health conditions such as Alzheimer’s which affect their verbal communication creating opportunity to be creative without using words. Applicant reports that the latter can aid in the recovery process and contributes to the prolonged independence of many participants. Existing community assets involved in this project include Longbridge Day Centre and Chatham Place, both of which expressed positive views on the contribution the creative provision gave to their beneficiaries.