In Autumn 2013 Green Candle Dance Company were funded by Vision Arts and Culture Redbridge to pilot Uplift! a dance and live music project. The ten weekly two hour workshops for people living with dementia and their companions, were housed in Redbridge Elderberries Day Care Centre.
The Uplift! project was delivered in partnership with North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) Redbridge Older Adults Mental Health Team and Grovelands Memory Service, Elderberries Day Care Centre, Age UK Redbridge and Living Well Resource Centre.
Over the course of the ten weeks Uplift! was evaluated in terms of a range of health and wellbeing outcomes by Green Candle and for the NELFT referred participants, two standardized outcome measures of communication and interaction and motivation for participation were used.
There were a number of very positive indications that Green Candle Dance Company's dance and live music sessions enhanced the quality of life, physical health, wellbeing and social interactive skills of the people living with dementia and their companions who particpated.
Green Candle Dance Company has since recieved additional funding from Redbridge Olympic Legacy Fund and City Bridge Trust to enable the project to continue for another thirty weeks from September 2014 - June 2015.
For the full Uplift! pilot project 2013 report, follow the 'read more' link below.
