🎉 Quiz Night & Charity Auction – Supporting Arts Uplift! 🎨
Get ready for a night of laughter, friendly competition, and feel-good fundraising! Join us for Arts Uplift’s Quiz Night & Auction — an evening packed with excitement, great company, and a chance to make a real difference.
🧠 What’s Happening
💡 Fun & Lively Quiz: Test your knowledge across rounds for everyone — from music and movies to general trivia!
🎁 Charity Auction: Bid on amazing prizes and experiences, including:
Tasting experience at Warwickshire Gin Co. Distillery
2 guest tickets to West Midlands Safari Park
And many more surprises!
💜 Why We’re Fundraising
Arts Uplift uses the power of the creative arts — from storytelling and dance to music and theatre — to bring communities together and boost physical and mental wellbeing. Your support helps us run creative projects for adults of all ages across Coventry and Warwickshire and beyond.
Every ticket sold, every bid placed, and every donation made goes directly toward keeping these life-enhancing programmes alive and thriving.
👥 Team Info
Teams of up to 6 people
Flying solo or short on teammates? No worries! Email jenny@artsuplift.co.uk and we’ll help you join a team.
So grab your friends, bring your competitive spirit, and help us make a difference — all while having a fantastic night out!
📅 Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Venue :
🚗 Getting Here
Parking: The nearest car parks are located at Bath Place. Alternatively, on-street parking is available near the venue.
By Train: Only a 5-minute walk from Leamington Spa Train Station
By Bus: Hop off at The Parish Church stop on Spencer Street — just a 2-minute walk to the venue
✨ Don’t miss this incredible evening of fun, community, and creativity — all in support of Arts Uplift!
Unwind from the week and immerse yourself in great conversations at our brand-new monthly Book Club. Hosted at the fantastic 1 Mill St – Fluters Bar, each session will feature a structured discussion led by Aarthi.
Not only will you enjoy an inspiring evening with fellow readers, but your ticket fee will also go towards supporting Arts Uplift’s creative arts programmes, which use the arts to improve the physical and mental health of adults across Coventry and Warwickshire.
📖 This Month’s Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, romanticnovel of manners by English author Jane Austen, published anonymously in three volumes in 1813. A classic of English literature, written with incisive wit and superb character delineation, it centers on the burgeoning relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. It was Austen’s second published novel.
🌟 What to Expect
A welcoming, relaxed atmosphere at 1 Mill St – Fluters Bar
A structured book discussion with Aarthi
The chance to connect with fellow book lovers
Deep dive into themes of brotherhood, love
Your participation helps fund Arts Uplift’s creative arts programmes
✨ We can’t wait to see you there for an evening of books, conversation, and community!
Based on real-life stories from people affected by dementia that we gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project in partnership with Museums Worcestershire, Navigating Margaret, is an exciting theatre production about a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with dementia and how it affects her family. Margaret was one of the first women to fly an aeroplane in Worcestershire and we also look back at her life from the 60s to the present day (her childhood, growing up and meeting the love of her life Charlie a ground breaking inter-cultural relationship) as her story unfolds.
The play weaves text and movement with a fairy-tale feel to it mixing the real and abstract. Four diverse professional actors will help to tell the incredible stories and raise much needed awareness and education about dementia (1 in 14 adults over 65 years have dementia and 1 in 3 people born today will develop the disease).
Audience members thoughts
“Wonderful. Magical. Informative. Helps dispel the fear & concern around dementia.” “I thought the play was incredibly well written, the emotional aspects were very hard hitting, but very eye opening.”
“It was charming and poignant and so beautifully detailed, real emotional lift.”
A Question and Answer session will follow each show with a panel including dementia experts, members of the cast and the Producer. This will enable the audience to explore the subject matter and the creative journey. Local dementia support information will be available to take away.
Who should see the play
The play and associated dementia workshops are suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members, people with early stage dementia, theatre goers and anyone generally interested in dementia.
The show and workshops are not suitable for people with middle and late-stage dementia. Age recommendation 12+ due tooccasional mild swearing.
Dementia Awareness Workshops
Using excerpts from the show and Forum Theatre techniques, the workshops are a practical introduction to dementia, dementia care and prevention. Low pressure interactive play opportunities and practical explorations build an actionable and experiential understanding of dementia.
What to Expect:
Interactive Learning: Immerse yourself in a dynamic learning experience that combines informative discussions with hands-on activities.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our 4-person team and dementia specialist, including actors who will share excerpts from their thought-provoking show.
Actionable Insights: Gain practical knowledge and skills to enhance dementia care and promote preventive behaviours.
Hear what our participants have to say: “Absolutely brilliant”
“Very informative and great that it got people physically involved”
In previous workshops all participants stated they learnt something new, including the complexity of the disease and the impact it has on family & friends. 100% said they would recommend the training, stating that “It was a positive way of looking at how to make a difference” and “Interactive learning is so much better than being talked at!”
Testimonial
Kevin Moffatt, dementia researcher (just retired from Warwick University)
“Professionally, I would consider that everyone should immerse themselves in Navigating Margaret. As a dementia-research neuroscientist, and the Outreach Director for Life Sciences, I am always looking for ways to use the power of the creative arts to bring this subject to the forefront. Having participated in two of the rehearsed readings and their associated workshops, I was hugely impressed. Arts Uplift’s research and dedication to the science, social implications and the personal interactions of families, makes for an intelligent, pertinent and factual insight into this critical area of disease and care.”
Arts Uplift are committed to being as environmentally responsible as possible. Please consider travelling to the show and workshops by public transport, on foot or car share.
Book Your Place
Live performance
Pay what you can. All donations appreciated.
14 November 7pm – Sikh Cultural & Sports Centre, Leamington Spa, CV31 3LZ. Parking at the Gudwara Temple car park off Tachbrook Park Drive CV34 6RH
17 November 10.30am – Indian Community Centre, Cross Rd, Coventry, CV6 5GP. Parking at the Banquet Suite care park. The Indian Centre is to the right of this building.
21 November 7pm, Ecumenical Centre, Redditch,B97 4EX. Parking is at any of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre car parks. The Ecumenical centre is near to one the entrances to the shopping centre next to Ladbrokes.
There will be a Q&A session following each play.
Dementia Awareness Workshops
14 November 2.30-4.30pm – Sikh Cultural and Sports Centre, Leamington, CV31 3LZ- SOLD OUT. Parking at the Gudwara Temple car park off Tachbrook Park Drive CV34 6RH
17 November 3-5pm- Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, CV1 5EV-Pay SOLD OUT.
18 November 10-12 noon- Rugby Baptist Church, Rugby, CV21 2PJ- Pay what you can On street parking
18 November 2.30-4.30pm- Nuneaton library, Nuneaton, CV11 4DR- Pay what you can Parking and toilets at Sainsbury’s
19 November 10-12pm- Hastings Care Home, Malvern, WR14 3NA- Pay what you can
19 November 2.30-4.30pm- Tolly Community Centre, Worcester, WR4 9QW- SOLD OUT
20 November 10-12 noon- Deer Park Care Home, Ledbury, HR8 2XW- SOLD OUT
20 November 2.30-4.30pm- Belmont Community Centre, Hereford, HR2 7UQ SOLD OUT
21 November 2.30-4.30pm-Ecumenical Centre, Redditch, B97 4EX- SOLD OUT. Parking is at any of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre car parks. The Ecumenical centre is near to one the entrances to the shopping centre next to Ladbrokes.
*plus optional £1 booking fee which covers the costs incurred
Eliza Ann is a 23 year old, actor/creator/movement artist, based in London and the West Midlands. Since graduating in 2022, with a First Degree in Acting, Theatre and Performance, she has continued to develop her skills in visual imagery and physical theatre. Eliza performed as Young Margaret in the 2023 and 2024 rendition of Navigating Margaret with ArtsUplift. She is now returning as Young Margaret and Dani, in this version of Navigating Margaret – The Tour (2025). Eliza is also an associate artist for the critically acclaimed Strange Futures Theatre Company, with whom she has written, devised and performed in multiple community-involved projects, including The Last Restaurant (2022), Slow Cooked Stories (2023) and On The Bare Hill (2024). The Tree Rings.
(2023) was shortlisted by both Underbelly and The Pleasance Charlie Hartill Fund. She has led workshops in puppetry and visual arts, of which involved drama students at The University of Worcester. Eliza has also supported multiple award nominated short films.
Lucinda Lloyd
Playing Magpie, Ma, Louise, Sarah
Lucinda graduated from the Academy Of Live & Recorded Arts completing the 3year Diploma in Acting. She continued her training with Anne Bogart (Viewpoints) and Seb Harcombe (Stanislavski). She won the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award in the 168 LA Film Festival for her role in the film Home, dir: Debs Paterson. Theatre credits include Shall We Shog? (The Globe) dir: Ken Campbell; Decor Without Production 1 & 2, (The Royal Court) dir: Ken Campbell; Cathy,Wuthering Heights, (The Rosemary Branch and UK tour) dir: Helen Tennison; Hecuba in Hecuba, (The White Bear) dir: Justin Murray; Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, (Dirty Market Theatre) dir: Georgina Sowerby. Lucinda combines her skills as an actor, artist and writer. She was selected for The New Writers programme at The Royal Court & The Arcola as well as receiving a poetry writing award from The Arvon Foundation. She also received The Royal Female School of Art Award. In addition to her works being shown at The Arcola & The BAC, Lucinda is currently developing an original piece of theatre with St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, London. This is the second time Lucinda has been a part of the company for Navigating Margaret.
Illona Linthwaite
Playing Margaret
After training at Rose Bruford’s Drama School Illona worked in repertory theatre for several years. She later formed her own company, writing and commissioning plays. In London she has acted at The Arcola, Lyric Hammersmith, Playhouse Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Young Vic, National and RSC Theatre Companies. She recently worked with the Dot Collective, Bedouin Shakespeare, Punch Drunk, SLG Co. and Swamp Motel playing many glorious parts. Television work includes series Within These Walls, Shadow of the Noose, The Flockton Flyer, The Bill and several plays for Today. With her one woman plays she has toured many parts of the world. This is the third time Illona has played Margaret for Arts Uplift.
Madhav Vasantha
Playing Graham, Charlie and Aunty Edie
Madhav grew up in Bangalore, India and has lived and worked in the States and the UK since then. His recent credits include The Vanishing Elephant which premiered at the New Victory Theatre getting the NY Times Critics Choice followed by a tour of the UK and USA. Among his other theatre credits are Rajesh & Naresh, Lost souls, Pericles and The Tempest. He was also one of the Sketch Ensemble cast with the award winning (RTS 2020/21 Best Entertainment Programme) TV show Crackerjack (CBBC & BBC one) which can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.
Navigating Margaret has been made possible by the following sponsors and partners
Our weekly AGEING WELL sessions help to improve social connection and physical and mental wellbeing. They are dementia friendly. Key benefits include:
These workshops are great for:
Reducing loneliness
Improving hand and eye co-ordination and dexterity
Connecting people with new like-minded individuals
Learning new skills
Re-igniting old passions and hobbies
Slowing cognitive decline
Improving self-expression
Improving confidence
Singing For Wellbeing
Discover the power of music to uplift your spirits and improve your overall health. Sing along to familiar tunes, connect with others and enjoy a cuppa and a chat.
Arts and Crafts with Jess and Aish for over 65s – FREE
Take part in a range of carefully crafted mindful sessions with friendly support and guidance. Suitable for all abilities and people living with Dementia, Parkinsons or other disabilities. Carers welcome to come and support. Refreshments provided.
Venue: The Graham Adams Centre,St James Rd, Southam CV47 0LY
With thanks to Grineaux Accountants, Heart of England Foundation and the Cadbury Trust
Bedworth – pay what you can
Wednesdays 10.30am to 12pm
CURRENTLY CLOSED
Venue:
Old Meeting United Reformed Church, Leicester St, Bedworth, CV12 8JR
Quotes from past participants
Movement to Music Kenilworth – FREE
Fridays 10.45am to 12.15pm – FREE
Join us at these some gentle movement sessions set to familiar tunes. These sessions aim to improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
Sessions include One hour of movement and half an hour of social time, so these sessions are a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends. Refreshments are also included.
At Kenilworth Library, at the back of the building.
Our creative wellbeing courses are designed to help adults find ways of managing stress and improving mental-wellbeing. In a supportive group setting, you’ll learn to express your feelings and thoughts through music, singing and creative writing.
Led by experienced choir leader Claire Fowler. These small group sessions will help to boost your mood as you sing to familiar songs together. This choir is suitable for beginners and you don’t need to be a brilliant singer just the willingness to have a go!
There is lots of evidence that singing together can help with low mood, anxiety and depression.
What you can expect to learn:
Gain a better understanding of how singing can benefit your well-being.
Feel more confident about singing in a group and learn breathing and singing techniques to help you.
Meet new people and have peer to peer support.
Singing for wellbeing is aimed at adults across Warwickshire & Coventry looking to find creative coping strategies that can improve mental wellbeing.
For further information email info@artsuplift.co.uk or call on 01926 504 212
Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and Leamington Town Council
Creative Writing for Wellbeing
Discover the power of writing to improve your wellbeing
Course tutor: Tristan Jackson-Pate
Join our FREE online adult creative writing workshops led by Tristan Jackson-Pate. Discover your voice, craft compelling stories, and connect with others in a supportive community. Open to Coventry and Warwickshire residents who are looking to find coping strategies and improve mental well-being.
COURSE DETAILS
Online via Zoom
Wednesdays 7–8.30pm
21 January, 25 February, 18 March & 15 April
This creative writing group, led by writer and theatre maker Tristan Jackson-Pate alongside an Arts Uplift volunteer will focus on the ways we craft stories, in a relaxed online group setting. Participants can access the exercises in a variety of ways and enjoy the support of the group as they develop their ideas. Though sessions will primarily look at dramatic writing for theatre or film, the exercises and discussions had will be relevant to all forms of storytelling, whether you want to write a novel, or a poetry collection. We will cover:
Where stories come from
Story structure
Character creation
Finding the meaning
Exploring form
Plotting
Redrafting
And of course, how not to become blocked in your creativity! The aim is to provide chances to learn, create, and collaborate, in an inclusive, no pressure environment.
What you can expect to learn:
A better understanding about how creative writing can benefit your well-being.
More confidence about creative writing and different techniques that can be used to improve your well-being
Meet new people and have peer to peer support
For further information email info@artsuplift.co.uk or call on 01926 504 212
The inside stories creative writing group has just released an exciting new eBook featuring a vibrant collection of poems and stories from our course participants, representing a rich diversity of backgrounds and heritages. Download your copy today to experience the captivating power of their words and perspectives.
Previous creative writing from past courses are HERE 2023 and HERE 2024
Song Writing for Wellbeing
Feeling heavy? Lighten it with a lyric. Write your own!
Discover the power of song writing to enhance your wellbeing. Join experienced musician Martin Riley for these FREE songwriting workshops designed to help adults
Course Tutor Martin Riley
Find creative ways of managing stress and improving mental-wellbeing.
Starts January — Every Thursday!
A 10-session course running weekly at The Benn Partnership,Railway Terrace, Rugby CV21 3HR
7.15pm-8.45pm
15, 22, 29 January
5, 12, 19, 26 February
5, 12, 19 March 2026
Bookings are now open through the Recovery and Wellbeing Academy but you can book with us info@artsuplift.co.uk we are still taking participants.
Inside Stories – creative courses for wellbeing are delivered in partnership with the Recovery & Wellbeing Academy.
Inside Stories sessions have been funded by the following organisations:
Song Writing – National Lottery Community Fund and Rugby Benevolent Fund
Singing for Wellbeing – National Lottery Community Fund and Leamington Town Council
Creative Writing – National Lottery Community Fund
On September 232024, Arts Uplift and Sonrisa Arts delivered two creative workshops at the Fulbrook Centre, Oxford, as a pilot for Rewind 1970s: a health and heritage project that explores the heritage of 1970s Britain through the arts and reminiscence.
The workshops took place on two wards: City Community Hospital, a rehabilitation ward for older adults, and Sandford Ward, an older adult mental health inpatient ward. Service users from Cherwell Ward (older adult mental health inpatient ward), also joined the workshop on Sandford ward. The workshops were funded by Oxford City Council and supported by Oxford Health Arts Partnership and Arts Uplift.
The workshops were led by two highly experienced artists, a musician, Ant Kimber-McTiffen, and dance practitioner, Kath Kimber-McTiffen, who offered an inclusive, person-centred approach throughout the workshop, spending time talking to patients about their preferences, musical tastes, and memories of the 1970s, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all.
Patients and service users were asked how they felt using the happiness scale before and after the workshops; 100% either felt the same or were happier by the end of the workshop, with 84% suggesting they felt happier than they had been by the end of the workshops. Additionally, national evidence suggests that creative sessions like music and dance workshops can improve mood and reduce anxiety levels among patients, as well as encouraging increased social interaction and a sense of community within the hospital.
Music has also been shown to have a positive impact on perception of pain and overall well-being, contributing to a holistic approach to patient care. We know from anecdotal evidence from staff that patients request less pain medication when they are engaged in creative sessions.
Workshop Feedback
Comments from patients and service users
Comments from staff
Comments from artists
” It was just what I needed; I could do it every day.”
“Its been a difficult morning and this has cheered everyone up”
“It was fantastic to see how much recall people had from the 1970’s and hear all their stories and memories”
“This has given me such a boost and cheered up my morning.”
“I needed that, I was stressed”
“Great that staff were so enthusiastic and joined in the workshops, it made the atmosphere with the patients really lively, positive and motivating”
“It reminded me of good memories”
2023 PROJECT REWIND 1970S
Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Postcode Local Trust and Barchester Charitable Foundation Arts Uplift and Sonrisa Arts have joined together in an exciting project called ‘Rewind: 1970’s’: capturing a generation through the arts’, a community arts and heritage project in Coventry and Warwickshire.
We have been delivering 6 fun workshops in care homes, dementia cafes and older people’s friendship groups across Coventry and Warwickshire where we used creative dance, movement, music, reminiscence and popular culture from the 1970’s to inspire the participants to tell their personal stories and memories of growing up in the 1970’s. We have then created a dementia friendly scrap book from the memories which is printed and is available in various libraries across Coventry and Warwickshire and also available online HERE Read our evaluation report HERE
In phase 2 we created a fantastic dance and music show based on these memories and the memories of others groups stories which we performed to the groups that participated with 3 professional artists.
Tuesday 26 September 10.30 am Ettington Lodge 3pm Cedar Lodge care home
Wednesday 27 September 11am Meadow View care home 3pm Galanos House
Tuesday 3 October 10.30am Canley Age Uk Friendship Group 2.30pm Moat House Community Trust Tea&Chat
Wednesday 4 October 10.30am Cubbington Mill care home 3pm Holy Trinity Church, Nuneaton
Rewind: 1970’s
Dust off your flares and platform boots!
Rewind:1970’s, is inspired by real stories and memories of local Coventry and Warwickshire residents who lived through the 1970’s. All woven into a highly entertaining dance and music show celebrating the best and the worst of the decade.
What did you do when school was out for summer? Were you a dancing queen regular at The Locarno?An Angel Delight or a fruit and nutcase?
Rewind:1970’sgives more than a nod to the hit parade, disco dancing toYMCA, glamming it up toGet it On, punk rebellion toI fought the lawand many more…..
Aimed at older adults, this fun interactive show will take you back to re-live your youth…
Rewind: 1970’s Creative Team
Movement Director: Kath Kimber-McTiffen Musical Director, song arrangements & composer: Anthony Kimber-McTiffen Set & Costume Design: Kirsty Harris Creative Producer: Jenny Davis Performers: Katie Albon, Anthony Kimber-McTiffen, Kath Kimber-McTiffen
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