Young at art – Care home residents crowned winners in national competitions

Home news

Apr 21, 2021

Kingston Vale care home residents have scooped the top spot in not one, but two national competitions.

The creative residents at Care UK’s Sherwood Grange, on Robin Hood Lane, have been awarded first place in an Art competition coordinated by The River Thames Boat Project.

The residents spent four weeks painting water sections for a collaged boat scene and crafting a companion poem, both entitled ‘Winter on the Water’ and were thrilled when presented with first place and the grand prize of a three-hour boat trip on the Thames Discoverer.

The home also entered the Creative Humour competition, organised by Parkinson’s Art, and again took the top spot, winning a year’s subscription to Audible. The winning story, which was a collaborative effort by 10 residents, is entitled ‘The Heist’ and is about a group of care home resident’s planning a heist of a betting shop and getting into a spot of bother with the law.

Rick Mayne, Home Manager at Sherwood Grange, said: “We are thrilled to have won not one, but two, competitions. Residents were able to really flex their creative muscles and showcase their fantastic abilities.

“Creative activities play a big part of life here at Sherwood Grange, and we actively encourage residents to continue lifelong art hobbies and try new expressive pastimes. Art has a variety of benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it provides an alternative way to communicate and express emotions, and an opportunity to relive happy memories.

“We’d like to thank both The River Thames Boat Project and Parkinson’s Art for choosing residents at Sherwood Grange as their winners. It’s wonderful to see the residents’ creativity acknowledged with these awards and we can’t wait to enjoy our prizes – the boat trip is going to be a real highlight for residents once we are able.”

Sherwood Grange has been designed to encourage residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while remaining as independent as possible in a safe environment. The ‘Outstanding’ rated, state-of-the-art care home features a cinema, hair salon and art studio, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room, to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.

To find out more about Sherwood Grange please contact Customer Relations Manager, Jonathan Fahy, at jonathan.fahy@careuk.com or call 020 4502 8956.

For more general information, please visit: careuk.com/Sherwood-Grange