Singing for Well-Being is suitable for people looking to find coping strategies and improve mental well-being.
FREE singing workshops 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. There will be a chance to socialise afterwards and support each other over refreshments.
Singing for wellbeing is a partnership between the SYDNI Centre and Arts Uplift CIC
What you will learn
Gain a better understanding about how singing can benefit your well-being.
Feel more confident about singing in a group and learn breathing and singing techniques to help you.
To meet new people and have peer to peer support.
Aimed at: Adults across Warwickshire & Coventry looking to find creative coping strategies that can improve mental wellbeing.
We’re excited to announce we are in the customer vote for a Tesco Stronger Starts. It’s a scheme which gives community projects like us grants of up to £1,500. Tesco customers can vote from the start of October in the following Rugby, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Alcester Tesco stores:
Voting opens at the start of October and closes in the middle of January 2025
The Projects
Rugby
Funds will be used to provide Songwriting for Wellbeing workshops in Rugby
Free, uplifting, weekly song-writing courses for adults in Rugby looking to improve their mental wellbeing. The workshops help people connect with others and help people to discover the art of song writing to express feelings.
Alcester
Funds will be used for our Ageing Well Singing sessions
Free interactive weekly singing sessions for older people aged 65 years and above in Alcester in a safe and welcoming environment. Dementia-friendly. No experience necessary.
Voting
Tesco customers can vote by collecting a token when making a purchase from the checkout. Use it to vote for Arts Uplift on the way out of the store.
The project with the highest number of votes across the region will receive £1,500, the second placed project £1,000 and the third placed project £500.
Your votes really count so please support us next time you shop at Tesco!
Inside Stories 5 – creative courses to improve wellbeing are delivered in partnership with the Recovery and Wellbeing Academy.
SINGING FOR WELLBEING
Singing for Well-Being is suitable for people looking to find coping strategies and improve mental well-being.
The next course consists of 12 weeks of FREE singing workshops 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. There will be a chance to socialise afterwards and support each other over refreshments.
Singing for wellbeing is a partnership between the SYDNI Centre and Arts Uplift CIC
Learning Outcomes:
Gain a better understanding about how singing can benefit your well-being.
Feel more confident about singing in a group and learn breathing and singing techniques to help you.
To meet new people and have peer to peer support.
Aimed at: Adults across Warwickshire & Coventry looking to find creative coping strategies that can improve mental wellbeing.
Venue
Life Community Church, Charlotte Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3EB
Join our FREE 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 Now Fully Booked – please add yourself to the waiting list by emailing Jenny at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk
In person (Leamington Spa) 7-9pm – 25 November, 2 December, 9 December
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.
There will be the opportunity to write and read out your work (if you want to) in a friendly and supportive environment. No prior skills needed. Just bring something to write with and something to write on. After 10 weeks your work will form part of a writing e-book if you want to be included.
Learning Outcomes:
Gain a better understanding about how creative writing can benefit your well-being.
Feel more confident about creative writing and learn different techniques that can be used to improve your well-being
To meet new people and have peer to peer support
To be added to the waiting list for this course or for further information contact:
Jenny at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk or phone 07946 585978
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
Previous creative writing from past courses are HERE
Course Tutor Martin Riley
SONG-WRITING FOR WELLBEING
Song Writing for Wellbeing is part of our Inside Stories programme.
COURSE DETAILS
Online sessions: Thursdays 7-8.30pm
29 August, 19 September, 17 October, 21 November
In person (Rugby) Thursday 5 & 6 December 7-9pm
Sharing Performance: Monday 9 December 7-9pm
Sessions are led by an experienced musician Martin Riley plus an Arts Uplift volunteer in a supportive group setting.
You will learn how to express your feelings and thoughts through music.
No experience is necessary.
Suitable for people with low mood and low to moderate mental health issues.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand and discuss song structure and writing practices.
Contribute to songwriting through lyrics or music
Discover how to craft compelling songs.
Explore how songwriting can enhance personal well-being.
Learn basic computer sequencing, track layering, and rhythm selection.
Beth info@artsuplift.co.uk or call Beth on 01926 504 212
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Rugby Group Benevolent fund.
Previous Inside Stories 4 songs:
Good Will to All:
Give Again Today:
Inside Stories – creative courses for wellbeing are delivered in partnership with the Recovery & Wellbeing Academy from March to December 2024.
These are weekly evening workshops and monthly online sessions for people looking to find ways of improving their mental wellbeing. They are suitable for people with low mood and low to moderate mental health issues.
Inside Stories sessions have been funded by the following organisations:
Song Writing – Community Fund and Rugby Benevolent Fund
Singing for Wellbeing – Community Fund and Royal Leamington Spa Town Council
We are thrilled to announce Navigating Margaret 2024 Rehearsed Readings, a summer initiative funded by Arts Council England and the Coventry, Solihull, and Warwickshire Fund. This exciting project will see the development of a brand-new dementia awareness play, Navigating Margaret, ahead of a full-scale tour in Autumn 2025.
A Story of Resilience and Awareness
Navigating Margaret is a powerful and moving theatrical production inspired by real-life experiences. Based on stories gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project, the play delves into the journey of a Worcestershire woman living with Alzheimer’s dementia, exploring its impact on both her and her family.
The story unfolds uniquely, weaving together Margaret’s remarkable past as one of Worcestershire’s first female pilots with her present-day struggles. With a touch of fairy-tale magic, the play uses text, movement, and music to create a captivating blend of realism and abstraction. Four talented actors will bring the story to life, raising crucial awareness about dementia, a condition affecting 1 in 14 adults over 65.
Jenny Davis, Executive Director of Arts Uplift, says, “We are thrilled to be bringing this rehearsed reading of the play to Coventry and Warwickshire after such an overwhelmingly wonderful response to the play last time in Malvern, with an addition this time of some informative dementia awareness training. We are bringing some new actors into the company, which is exciting, and they have a challenge ahead of them playing multiple characters. We look forward to hearing people’s feedback and weaving this into the next stage.”
The four actors in Navigating Margaret
Be Part of the Development Process!
Join Arts Uplift for the Navigating Margaret 2024 Rehearsed Readings taking place at:
11am on 12th July at St Peter’s Apostle Church, Leamington Spa (a BSL performance)
15th July at St Paul’s Church, Foleshill, Coventry
18th July at Griff and Coton Sports & Miners Welfare, Nuneaton
These free rehearsed readings offer a unique opportunity to experience the play in its early stages. Four actors will perform a script-in-hand version with props, costumes, and music. Your feedback is invaluable! Following the reading, there will be a 30-minute session to share your thoughts and help shape the final production.
Deepen Your Understanding with Interactive Training
Following the morning session, Arts Uplift invites you to an optional dementia awareness training workshop from 2.30 to 4.30 pm. This free, two-hour interactive session is inspired by forum theatre practices, where audience participation actively influences the performance. Through excerpts from the show, discussions, and engaging activities, the workshop will provide practical tools and a deeper understanding of Alzheimer’s and dementia care.
The training is perfect for:
Carers and loved ones of people living with dementia
Care staff
Individuals interested in learning more about dementia
People with early-stage dementia seeking an interactive learning experience
The rehearsed reading is two hours long with an intermission and feedback session. All venues are fully accessible.
Space for the dementia awareness training is limited to 3 participants per session. To book your spot or inquire about larger group bookings, please contact info@artsuplift.co.uk.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of a vital conversation and witness the development of a powerful new play!
A powerful and moving theatrical production inspired by real-life experiences of people living with dementia and their carers from Worcestershire.
Based on stories gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project, the play delves into the journey of a Worcestershire woman living with Alzheimer’s dementia, exploring its impact on both her and her family.
Once a quick-witted female pilot, Margaret is getting increasingly forgetful and erratic, so her son encourages her to get a diagnosis. A familiar story perhaps, but Margaret’s ensuing journey through stages of dementia is anything but pedestrian. The action flashes back and forth between her family struggling to cope with her gradual changes and the tangled memories of her earlier life. Her 1950’s childhood in her family’s launderette, working at the carpet factory, courting Charlie at tea dances, and becoming one of the first airwomen in Worcestershire.
With a touch of fairy-tale magic, the play uses text, movement, and original contemporary music to create a captivating blend of realism and abstraction. Four talented actors will bring the story to life, raising crucial awareness about dementia.
R&D Rehearsed Readings of the play – Summer 2024
The rehearsed readings of the R&D stage of Navigating Margaret are now complete. Using 4 actors this took place during the Summer of 2024 with the aim of developing the show in Coventry and Warwickshire and improving awareness of dementia and its impact on the individual and family members through the delivery of dementia awareness training.
Rehearsed reading – Find out what the audience said in the video below:
Images from the rehearsed reading Summer 2024
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer/Director Helen Tennison
Designer Zahra Mansouri
Stage Manager Hannah Fenwick
Music Matt Eaton
Producer Jenny Davis
Actors
Illona Linthwaite
Eliza Thompson
Tuhin Chisti
Lucinda LLoyd
Meet the cast
Eliza Ann Thompson
Playing Young Margaret and Dani
Eliza Ann is a 22 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 rendition of Navigating Margaret with ArtsUplift. She is now returning as Young Margaret and Dani, in the R&D version of Navigating Margaret – The Tour (2024). 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.
Illona Linthwaite
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.
Tuhin is really pleased to be cast as Graham, Charlie and Aunt Edie in Navigating Margaret. This is a project close to his heart, particularly as he cared for his father who recently passed after living with dementia for many years.
Tuhin trained at Drama Studio London, graduating in 2019. Theatre credits include playing Raj the shop keeper in David Walliam’s Billionaire Boy with Birmingham Stage Co, directed by Neal Foster, touring across the UK in 2022. He played Tony, a New York drug dealer in Project Runway, directed by Suniya Qureshi at the Steiner House Theatre in London. Antonio in A Merchant of Venice directed by Bill Alexander at the Grange Court Theatre. Mac the tramp in a new writing piece by Lucy Bell called Billy, directed by Brendan Murray at The Soho Theatre. Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Jonathan Kemp at The Grange Court Theatre. Al Singh in The Grand Gesture, directed by Sue Dunderdale at The Bunker Theatre. His favourite role to date was playing Mr Naidu and various members of the ensemble in Around The World in 80 Days, directed by Jenny Eastop at Drayton Arms Theatre in Chelsea.
Being on stage has been a life long dream for Tuhin, and he would never have had the courage to pursue it without the support of his beautiful wife and three loving children.
Dementia awareness training details – accompany the play
As part of the tour of Navigating Margaret we will be offering a 2 hour fun interactive accessible workshop based on the play. The actors will perform some excerpts from the show and discussion and activity will be based on this. Inspired by Forum Theatre practices ( the engagement of spectators influencing and engaging with the performance with the power to stop and change the performance outcomes for the positive). This workshop is a practical introduction to Alzheimers and dementia care. There are low pressure role play opportunities (only if you want to), practical explorations and games to build an actionable understanding of dementia and dementia care.
Suitable for Adults such as carers/loved ones of those living with dementia, care staff, people interested in finding out more about dementia, people with early stage dementia that want a fun, interactive way of learning!
Funders
The Research & Development on Navigating Margaret has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England and the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Fund, amongst others, with a plan to tour it next Autumn 2025!
Based on real-life stories gathered from Arts Uplift’s successful Suitcase Stories project in partnership with Museums Worcestershire, Navigating Margaret, is an exciting, diverse and high quality theatre production about a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with Alzheimers 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 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).
Audiences said
“It was exceptional- everyone should see it! I laughed and cried. The humility and tender representation was mind-blowing.”
“Great acting and excellently thought through script/lighting/music etc”
“It needs to go on tour”
“It was charming and poignant and so beautifully detailed, real emotional lift. Thank you”
“Thank you for sharing, it was so lovely and really touched my heart on the impact of dementia.”
“So pleased to give an outstanding review of Navigating Margaret by @arts_uplift Fingers crossed we haven’t seen the end of this creative, emotional and heart-warming production”
The original production was performed at Malvern Cube in Worcestershire with a cast of professional and community actors for 3 shows ONLY, Friday 24 and 2 shows on Saturday 25 March (relaxed performance 2pm) 2023. Written and directed by Helen Tennison, an International Director, the show beautifully brings to the stage the rich stories collected from Worcestershire residents, living with dementia and their carers. See PAST PROJECTS for more information about the Malvern show.
Writer/Director Helen Tennison
Design by Zahra Mansouri
Sound by Matt Eaton
Lighting design by Dan Parry
Producer Arts Uplift Jenny Davis
Watch the performance at Malvern Cube Navigating Margaret the trailer
Below are some photos from the original show – photographer Keiko Ikeuchi
Take part in a range of carefully crafted mindful sessions with patient support and guidance.
– Canvas painting with acrylic- landscape
– canvas bag design with fabric pens , garden themed
– exploring colour, marbling and colour blending – linked to fashion
– printing linked to food and cooking
– Glass painting and staining glass collage
– Toys and games collage
– card making and print blocks – celebrations
Suitable for all abilities and people living with Dementia, Parkinsons or other disabilities. Carers welcome to come and support. Refreshments provided.
Benefits Improve physical and mental well-being including hand and eye co-ordination and dexterity
Connect with new like-minded people
Learn new skills
Re-ignite old passions/hobbies
Reduce loneliness
Reduce cognitive decline
Self-expression
improved confidence
Quotes from past participants
“The atmophere was lovely and we were made to feel welcome. Jess was a good teacher and everybody was friendly. We liked meeting people that were going through the same journey”
“I haven’t seen my mother that engaged or animated in ages – it was lovely to see.”
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