That Creative Thingy Wotsit

CIC
IT’S NOT ART
IT’S NOT ENTERTAINMENT
IT’S HEALTH CARE!

That Creative Thingy Wotsit CIC
Who We Are: We are a Community Interest Company
based in Weston super Mare with many years experience
delivering person centered creative engagement to adults
living with Dementia or other care and support need. We
work in partnership with residential homes & community
based support groups to improve the quality of life and the
health & well-being of people living with a support need
through engagement with the creative arts.
Why we do what we do: Although what we do involves
every genre of the arts possible we are clear that what we
are doing is not art, not entertainment, it’s health care.
The success of our activities are measured by the health
beneficial outcomes they bring to residents, staff & visitors.
We particularly focus on reducing social isolation &
loneliness, increasing physical activity, reducing use of
anti-psychotic medications and on the long term
improvements to overall health & well-being.
Our grateful thanks and appreciation to our funders:

Meet the team!
A little bit about the directors of That Creative Thingy Wotsit
Stephen Watters - Director & Company Secretary
After a long, successful and demanding career in the automotive
industry, I was looking forward to a quiet and peaceful retirement...
If anyone comes across it please let me know!
April Lewis - Director of Community Connections
I am a Purple Angel Ambassador and have been trained by Dementia
Care Matters in the butterfly technique. I am a validation trainer with
Julia Pitkin and have over 20 years experience caring for people with
dementia. In 2019 I helped to put on the first World Rocks Against
Dementia event in WsM and will be doing so again in 2020.
Nicky Tweedle - Director of Holistic Therapies
I have been a campaigner for improving meaningful occupation
in care for over 15 years. Currently working in The Enhanced
Supervision Nursing Team at Weston General hospital. I am the
managing director of Activ8ties. My latest project is to establish
The Purple Hub community engagement space.
Bev Gustar - Director of Training & Artistic Development
I first started working with TCTW 2 years ago on their creative care
homes projects having never previously worked in a care environment,
or with people with dementia. I have learned so much in my time here
and am honored now to be the director responsible for giving other
artists and care providers the same opportunities I have had.
Tania Bodalia - Director of Intergenerational Activities
Since joining the team my understanding around the importance
of creative engagement in care settings has grown significantly.
I am looking forward to increasing the quantity and quality of
intergenerational activities for people living with additional support
needs in partnership with Weston Super Rocks.

Weston
Super
R cks

You are cordially invited
to join us for
INTERGENERATIONAL
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
at Tilsley House
Please join us for an intergenerational
activity session including
Rock Painting with Weston Super Rocks,
Sweet Silent Discos with Mark Sweeting,
Arts & Crafts with EJK Art & Design,
Chair Aerobics with Ann-marie Hitchens,
And More...

Creative Care Homes
Our creative care homes project has been running now
for almost two years. In that time we have worked with
over 30 local artists and holistic therapists to deliver hundreds
of hours of creative engagement to 17 local residential
homes and 4 community based support groups for people
with additional care & support need.
Some of our super successful activities include Mad Hatter and
Halloween parties, all manner of creative arts and crafts, music
movement & dance as well as a range of holistic therapies
such as mindfulness, meditation and massage therapy.
One of our primary goals has always been to educate and train
care home staff on the significant health benefits that increased
creativity can bring to a care environment and to make them
aware of the improvements to happiness and well-being of
the residents that follow.
Our intention is always to leave staff members with a
lasting legacy of increased skills, ability and confidence
so that they can deliver similar workshops and activities
when TCTW are not present.

Little Red Riding Hood - Serenita ARBD Care
Annie Get Your Gun - Tilsley House
Annie Get Your Gun - Gardinia Court
Wonderland by Brave Bold Drama - Acer House
Aladdin - Eva Long Productions
Three Kings - Tilsley House

A Night At The Theatre
Following our previous successful
performances of “Annie get your gun”
at Gardinia and Jasmine Court as well
as our shadow puppet performance of
“Little red riding hood”
at Serenita ARBD Care we were very pleased this
year to have partnered with Brave Bold Drama to
bring the first dementia sensitive production of
“Wonderland” to local residential care homes. All
performances were delivered to intergenerational
audiences and a superb time was had by all.
Earlier in the year we worked with Theatre Orchard
and Traveling Light Theatre Company
to bring their production of “The Three Kings”
to intergenerational audiences at Acer house
and Tilsley who also hosted a performance of
“Aladdin” by Eva Long Productions.

12
Weston
Super
R cks

Weston Super Rocks - Arts in Care
This year Weston Super Rocks was kindly funded by North
Somerset Community Partnership to visit 12 residential care homes
in Weston-super-Mare to deliver intergenerational activities.
The aim of this project was to increase the amount of health
beneficial social engagement for the residents.
Each home received a rock painting workshop where we created
a total of 209 new kindness rocks. 5 local schools & 42 community
youth groups were then invited to visit the homes for
some fun intergenerational rock hunting parties!
Residents enjoyed Rock Painting, Singing (With Elvis),
Sedentary Dancing & Movement, Rock Hunting Visits,
Reminiscence Activities, Games, Puppetry and Poetry.
Engagement
Multi Modal Activities - Hours
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
79
66
44
42
5
Rock Painting
Singing
75
(With Elvis)
Sedentary Dancing & Movement
Rock Hunting
Reminiscence
Activity Games
Puppetry
1
2
10
11
18
22
22
209
rocks
painted
Residents
Children & Visitors
Staff Participating
Youth Groups
Schools
Poetry
1
0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0
“The rock hunting game is going to be great. I love things like that and
wouldn’t be without children.” - Kate, Innisfree
“The music took me back to being a little girl. My mother would play this music
and sing the songs to me.” - Pearl, Granada House
“It was nice to see Bill interacting with an activity for a change.” - Carer at Granada House

Every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month

Creative Care Training
We are currently delivering workshops
in person-centered creative care which we intend to
make available FREE of charge to residential care home
staff and creative artists.
Our current workshop, Creative Activity - Principles &
Practice will include the following modules:
1. Understanding the role of creativity in care.
To include a review of current evidence and statistics.
2. Creative Care Planning for Groups.
3. Creative Care in Practice. Delivering a live session
in a residential care environment
4. Person-Centred Creative Care for individuals
and course review.
If you are interested in pursuing a career as an activities
and well-being co-ordinator, or are already working
in this role and would like to learn more
about our FREE training opportunities
please contact Stephen on: 07492 840238
or email: thatcreativethingywotsit@outlook.com

Social Prescribing
Not since the creation of the National Health Service
in 1946 has any public health & well-being initiative
been undertaken which has more potential to radically
transform our society than that of Social Prescribing.
If implemented carefully, with attention to detail and
strong leadership, social prescribing will:
• Reduce Dementia instances in North Somerset by 30%
• Lower the use of anti-psychotic medications in
care homes by 40%
• Reduce future NSC residential care costs by 25% - 30%
• Reduce A&E admissions by 23%
• Reduce GP appointments by 21%
• Eliminate Social Isolation & Loneliness
• Reduce the 4000 bed days lost at Weston Hospital each
year due to DTC (delayed transfer of care)
• Improve the well-being & happiness of NS residents
• Create new opportunities for creative businesses to grow
• Make Social Care in North Somerset World Class
Social Prescribing will make North Somerset the
most Dementia Friendly community in the UK

Calendar Girls - Tilsley House
Halloween Party - Jasmine Court
Making Music - Freeways
Little Red Riding Hood - Serenita ARBD Care
NSCP Care Home Managers Conference 2019
Drama Day - The Reach Centre Axebridge

2020 vision
We have lots of interesting project planned for the future.
Watch this space!
Residential Care Arts Trail
A full programme of creative arts in celebration of arts in care.
Come and join local artists for exhibitions, workshops and performances
in residential care homes across north somerset.
Intergenerational Workshops
Our intention is to significantly increase the number of creatively engaging
workshops and intergenerational activities in residential homes.
We are inviting members of the public to join us and take part in this
key project to reduce social isolation and loneliness within our community.
Christmas Shows
Our Night At The Theatre project will see us working with a number of local
directors, performers and other professional theatre makers to put on Christmas
themed shows at 5 residential care homes in Weston-super-Mare. Each show will
be a collaboration involving residents, staff as well as professional artists.
Creative Care Homes
Our creative care homes projects will continue into 2020.
If you are an artist or holistic therapist and would like to gain experience,
and be supported to work in residential care homes, please contact us.
World Rocks Against Dementia
Following the very first successful World Rocks Against Dementia concert
in Weston-super-Mare in 2019 we are pleased to announce that we will be
supporting WRAD 2020. Music is one of the most effective tools used in care
environments and improves the quality of life for people living with dementia.
WRAD 2020 promises to be even more amazing! More details coming soon.

Thanks for all your help and support everyone!
EJK Art
& Design
Please become a dementia friend:

Did You Know?
There are 850k people
living with dementia
in the uk
76% of older
people say arts
are important
to making
them happy
Arts Council England
Report 2015
Music reduces the
need for medication
in 67% of people
with dementia
If the onset of dementia
could be delayed by 5 years,
savings of £100 Billion
could be achieved by 2035
30% of dementia cases
could be prevented
Norton; Lancet Neurology 2014
25% of
hospital beds
are occupied
by people with
dementia
77% people
engaging
with arts are
more active
40% of
carers report
having
little social
contact
with people
and feeling
socially
isolated.
69% of older
people say arts
improve their
quality of life
Nearly 2/3
of carers
have health
problems or a
disability

IT’S NOT ART
IT’S NOT ENTERTAINMENT
IT’S HEALTH CARE!

CIC
Our vision is to enhance the lives of people living and working in
residential care homes through engagement with the creative arts and
to support artists to achieve their artistic ambitions.
The case for using creativity in care has been made beyond question
and is evidenced by studies from across the UK reporting life changing
results across a full spectrum of care and supports needs.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about our projects
and thank you for your support.
To get involved or for further information please contact
Stephen Watters on: 07492 840238
or email us: thatcreativethingywotsit@outlook.com
TCTWCIC