16 places available

Supporting improved communication for those working with and welcoming people living with dementia and their care-givers

Offering an interactive and active learning approach, the training provides participants with an understanding of the imagination model in engaging with people living with dementia.

Training will support improved confidence to create inclusive, dementia-friendly creative opportunities that are 'inspired by imagination' and fuelled by the imagination of the group or audience.

Equal Arts’ training supports training participants to:

• Gain an understanding of the effects of dementia
• Recognise the value of an imagination approach to communication and delivery
• Support a user-led approach to developing and delivering inclusive, dementia-friendly creative opportunities
• Understand the importance of multi-sensory exploration and how to address all five senses in workshops
• Explore the art of improvised story-telling to aid communication and stimulate imagination
• Trial new creative techniques to build confidence and time for reflection

About the facilitators

Equal Arts, a leading creative ageing charity based in the North East of England, aims to improve older people’s wellbeing and quality of life through creativity.

Equal Arts delivers sector training and creative programmes supporting older people at risk of isolation and/or living with long term health conditions including dementia.

The session will be run by two facilitators: Kate Parkin, Creative Age Programme Manager at Equal Arts, and Claire Ford, a workshop leader, training facilitator and artist.

Engage Spring Training Programme

Engage is delighted to announce a programme of workshops and short courses which will run throughout February and March to provide training and skills development for those working in the gallery and visual arts education sector across the UK.

The programme will support colleagues in the sector to develop their understanding and skills in relation to issues which have become more urgent because of recent challenges, particularly since the pandemic, including mental health and wellbeing, the climate emergency, and supporting creative practitioners. Additionally a range of sessions will support colleagues to work in the online environment through the development of skills in digital facilitation, facilitating play online, and digital drawing, amongst other topics.

Engage has received generous support through the Cultural Recovery Fund administered by Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation for core costs and sector support. As a result, we are able to offer funded places on our workshops and courses to those in England, supported through the Cultural Recovery Fund. We are able to offer free places to those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Sessions are suitable for colleagues who are employees, freelance, currently furloughed and unemployed. Engage members can take advantage of priority booking. Remaining places will be opened to bookings for others working in the sector.