Our colleagues over at Manx Care Older Persons Mental Health Service, have been working hard to set up 'Creative Minds in Mann', a positive program that involves patients with dementia and other memory related illnesses and their families, in fun-filled creative activities.

Recently, our Arts Graduate Intern Sophie, had the pleasure of working with the group to deliver a creative movement based workshop. During the two-hour session, Sophie taught short repetitive routines and a number of activation and stretch exercises. The group reacted wonderfully to all of the music choices and they all got involved, some even brought their own dance shoes! Sophie says "The experience was really rewarding, and being able to help even one person with a memory related illness, remember something exciting about their teenage or early adult years, felt really special. I can only imagine how isolating these kind of conditions can be for both patients and families, but for just two hours, to see each and every one of them smiling and getting involved, felt absolutely incredible. Hopefully, in the future I will be able to offer more sessions like this, continuing with either Manx Care or Hospice".

Dance and movement in particular, is thought to help in efforts of keeping the brain healthy. Learning short repetitive routines can help practice remembering things and in some scenarios, testing yourself or other people on remembering routines without help can be a really positive challenge. The general level of exercise is also a great benefit and keeps limbs mobile and stronger. But, other than these anatomical benefits, dance, and any of the other 'Creative Minds in Mann' sessions offer a lovely morning of socialisation with a creative session as well as the opportunity to chat and have a cup of tea or coffee.

For their sessions, the group have been using the wonderful Kensington Arts facilities. Being able to use versatile space like this means that they can continue to offer lots of art forms, whether that is dance, clay modelling or painting. The Arts Council and Sophie, are thrilled to be part of such a positive project and look forward to hearing about lots of other sessions.