The idea
Remember to Dance in Tower Hamlets is a dance and live music session for people living with dementia and their carers and companions. Our sessions are mentally stimulating and creatively inspiring, while at the same time participants develop skills in dance and movement, including co-ordination, balance, motor skills, body and spatial awareness while working towards greater flexibility in tendons and joints, better cardiac functioning, and muscle strength.
Due to the current circumstances, we are no longer able to run sessions face to face so we have had to adjust our project idea and we are seeking funding for the revised offer and need your help.
The sessions would take place online in a friendly atmosphere where participants can join from their own homes. Each participants will receive a prop pack. The sessions will contribute to the psychological and physical well-being of older people living with dementia and their carers, combating isolation safely in the current circumstances.
What we'll deliver
- 20 x Dance online sessions, inviting different generations in their house hold or in their support bubble to join in.
- Promote family cohesion through online intergenerational sessions
- Increase wellbeing and physical health of our participants and improve their quality of life
- Increase understanding and awareness of dementia with in the household or support bubble
- To facilitate participants virtually meeting with others and their carers/ family members.
Why it's a great idea
Here at Green Candle we are passionate about providing opportunities to dance to those with least access and we have seen first-hand the impact that our earlier programme, Remember to Dance, had. With lack of funding and huge cuts to local authority budgets, support for Dance and Dementia is needed now more than ever. Nearly everybody has some connection with dementia and it's vital that people with dementia are embraced into communities, not pushed aside.
Some comments: "It was so good to see mum joining in and laughing so much, she loved all the praise you gave her and it stayed with her the rest of the day. ‘The work done here is so valuable in waking up the brain to connections’
‘I really like dancing and making up dance moves with the children’.
‘Everybody gained a deeper understanding of dementia. They also realised how they could have a positive impact on others.'
Steps to get it done
- Confirm partnership with local carer support services and the Tower Hamlet Mental Health Teams.
- Recruit musicians to perform live music during the sessions, they will join via video link also.
- Contact previous participants, prepare publicity material and promote to a wider audience.
- Risk assessment and safeguarding checks
