THE CARE PROJECT
BACKGROUND
In late 2024, we launched a new Satellite programme project – The Care Project. This pilot project, developed in partnership with Scottish Care and coordinated by Lead Programmes Officer, Phoebe Watt, was designed to support the creative wellbeing of both staff and residents in care homes across Dumfries & Galloway, collaborating with three care homes, Allanbank, Fleet Valley and Munches Park, to explore and foster creative initiatives. Our aim was to enhance the creative wellbeing of staff and residents, strengthen their connections and create a more inspiring and supportive care home environment for everyone.
The project’s key aims were:
- To enhance wellbeing for staff
- To enhance wellbeing for residents
- To improve relationships between staff and residents
- To increase levels of personal creativity for staff
- To explore pathways to increase sense of empowerment and ownership for stakeholders
- To enhance care home spaces – improving working environments for staff and providing stimulation for residents
- To identify longer-term aims
- To evaluate the success of Phase 1 and the potential for Phase 2
“I loved watching residents have a great time and joining in. This session brought us all together.”
RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT
We commissioned Artist Julie Stephen from the Artful Corner to deliver engaging creative sessions in each care home – establishing our stakeholder priorities for the project. These sessions helped us gather valuable insights and ideas from both residents and staff by asking them what brings them joy, how they enjoy expressing themselves creatively and the kinds of activities they love most.
During these creative engagement workshops, residents and staff worked together to create an inspiring Tree of Life artwork in each home. Using hand-decorated leaves to express their interests and passions, they collaboratively built vibrant pieces that now proudly adorn their walls. Each care home also received additional blank leaf cutouts, encouraging other residents and staff to add their thoughts and creativity over time. Across all three homes, common themes emerged, including a deep appreciation for nature, the outdoors, music and visual arts.
PILOT ACTIVITIES
In the next phase, we commissioned Artist Lucy Lee to bring mark-making workshops to each of our partner care homes. Using bespoke materials including oversized crayons and willow charcoal – handcrafted by Lucy – residents and staff connected with nature while creating stunning artwork. Together, they created Solway birds set against beautiful, coastal-inspired backgrounds, by making marks and patterns with Lucy’s handmade materials. Participants were promoted to discuss seaside memories, with a calming coastal soundtrack adding to the sensory experience.
We then worked with Heather and Stuart from Paragon Music to lead interactive sessions that brought residents and staff together through vocal warm-ups, dancing and playing instruments. Paragon worked with Phoebe, selecting appropriately accessible instruments to allow residents with poor mobility and/or hand grip to participate. These sessions inspired connection, laughter and sparked memories of music, highlighting its unique power to bring people closer.
“A resident said it helped her be sociable and relax as her Parkinsons can be really restrictive in what she can participate in. She enjoyed the opportunity to share stories and memories about her family.”
EVALUATION AND REFLECTION
Faced with the challenges of dementia and cognitive impairments among residents, the project team developed a flexible, compassionate evaluation approach combining artist reflections, staff observations and informal chats. Across three art and music programmes, 100 residents and 25 staff participated.
Sessions created joyful, calming atmospheres filled with laughter, movement and storytelling. Creative tools, like iPad music apps and handmade brushes, made participation accessible and fun. Staff and residents built stronger connections, with some moments proving deeply therapeutic.
Lessons revealed the need for shorter sessions, improved communication within care homes and greater staff involvement. Looking ahead, the project points to exciting opportunities: integrating creativity into daily routines, fostering long-term projects like murals or memory trails, and using storytelling to strengthen emotional bonds and community spirit.
“I most enjoyed the joining in and socialising, it de-stressed me and relaxed me. I enjoyed the company. I have loved it today, mixing with others.”
