Down to a fine art – children join Newcastle-upon-Tyne care home for the world’s largest drawing fes

Home news

Nov 07, 2019

Residents at a care home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne picked up their pencils and welcomed Little Tinklers Nursery for The Big Draw Festival 2019.

Care UK’s Ponteland Manor, on Thornhill Road, joined in the celebrations by creating works of art around this year’s theme, ‘drawn to life’. The children and residents created a beautiful autumn tree surrounded by things that represent Ponteland, including nature paintings inspired by the home’s beautiful surroundings.

Launched in 2000 as part of the ‘Campaign for Drawing’, The Big Draw promotes drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and has encouraged over four million people to get arty since its inception. This year’s theme celebrates the benefits of creative activities, especially drawing, on health and wellbeing. 2019 also marks the bicentenary of John Ruskin’s birth, founder of the Guild of St George, the charitable education trust behind the initiative.

Paula Routledge, home manager at Ponteland Manor, said: “It was great to take part in The Big Draw Festival 2019, and everyone had a wonderful time getting creative.

“Art and intergenerational activities are a huge part of life at Ponteland Manor so it was great to bring the two together by inviting Little Tinklers Nursery into the home. Everyone is so pleased with what we created, and we can’t wait to invite them back to the home very soon!”

Ponteland Manor has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential and nursing care and short-term respite care.

Recognising the importance of artistic activities, Care UK was happy to become one of the lead sponsors for The Big Draw this year alongside organisations such as The Courtauld Institute of Art and the City of Toronto Museum. You can read more about Care UK’s national involvement here: thebigdraw.org/drawn-to-life-care-uk

To find out more about Ponteland Manor care home, please contact home manager, Paula Routledge, on 0333 4343 067, or email paula.routledge@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit: careuk.com/ponteland-manor

To find out more about the Big Draw festival, please go to thebigdraw.org