Thanks to funding from Coventry City Council we delivered 8 arts and crafts workshops with artist Daya Bhatti and the Navrang South Asian elders group in Foleshill, Coventry in the summer/autumn 2026.
The group worked with Daya each week on different techniques including decorating sunglasses, print-making and collage. They also brought in objects that reminded them of their past and told stories about their childhood and past times in Foleshill.
All the work was brought together by Daya in to an exhibition which is being displayed at Foleshill and Central Coventry libraries.
Exhibition information
Drawing on memories of younger years, migration and the objects that have travelled with these women and their families, the project explores how jewellery, fabrics, clothing and other meaningful belongings can carry stories of identity, femininity, belonging and home.
As women grow older, particularly within South Asian communities, there can be expectations around how they should look, behave and present themselves.
Ageing can come with assumptions that women should become quieter or less expressive, and that the colour, glamour and adornment associated with their younger years are things they should leave behind.
This project challenges those stereotypes by recognising that these aspects of identity do not simply disappear with age.
The group have been creating colourful pieces from decorated sunglasses to bright bangles and printing on materials, each piece reflecting their own creativity, ideas and personality. 😎💎
The group’s finished work is being exhibited from Tuesday 22nd September to Sunday 18th October.
The Taste of Giving- a wine tasting fundraiser for Arts Uplift
Join us for an evening of wine tasting with Blabers Hall Wine Estate at the gorgeous 1 Mill St in Leamington Spa CV31 1ES on Wednesday 11 November from 7.30pm to raise money for Arts Uplift’s creative health programmes.
Adele from Blabers Wine will do an introductory talk about the history of the wine estate near Coleshill, We’ll explore 4 tasting wines together, noting colour, aroma, and flavour. Each table is served a selection of bar snacks including breadsticks, crisps, chocolate, and olives to compliment the wine.
There will be then time for questions.
Spitoons will be available for non drinkers.
An auction will follow including a voucher for a wine tasting trip to the vineyard, a head shot photoshoot, a round of golf and much more!
Get your wine choices ready for your Xmas and New Year parties and celebrations or gift!
Generously sponsored by Alsters Kelley Solicitors.
“Alsters Kelley Solicitors Ltd, who have offices across Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire are delighted to be supporting this evening’s wine tasting fundraising event for the Arts Uplift CIC. Huge congratulations to Jenny on the 10-year anniversary of the Arts Uplift CIC – what an achievement. Jenny continues to offer amazing support to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged adults across our region through her art workshops and performances, and we are just very pleased to be able to help in a very small way by supporting this evening. Enjoy the wine and thank you to everyone for coming along to support this evening.” Julie McGarrigle
Tickets £29 plus booking fee.
All the funds raised will go towards our 10 years 10K fundraiser to help isolated, vulnerable and disadvantaged adults improve their well-being and live better lives!
We live in a society where it is often easier to throw things away than repair or reuse them. Clothes go out of fashion, packaging builds up, and materials with plenty of life left in them end up in landfill. Upcycling offers a practical alternative.
What is upcycling?
Upcycling is the process of transforming unwanted or discarded materials into something new and useful without breaking them down into their raw components. Unlike recycling, which requires energy to reprocess materials, upcycling works with what is already there to extend the life of existing products. An old denim jacket might become a unique piece of clothing. Fabric scraps can be turned into bags, artwork or homeware. Instead of becoming waste, these materials are given a new purpose.
Upcycling also supports the principles of the circular economy, where products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, reducing waste, and the demand for new resources.
What makes a good upcycling project?
The most effective projects begin with materials that would genuinely have been thrown away — not offcuts bought new, but real waste given a second chance. They require creativity and skill to produce something with real value at the end. Beyond the finished product, they also encourage people to rethink the way they view waste and consumption.
One example of this in action was the exhibition that our Ageing Well Southam group developed. Another one isLet’s Create and Reuse, a programme our Chair of Advisory Group has been proud to be involved with. Let’s Create and Reuse is a six-week textile programme focused on sustainability for secondary school students. It aims to raise awareness of the environmental impact of textile waste while encouraging participants to upcycle denim and cotton clothing donated by Myton Hospice into new creations. Alongside developing practical textile skills, students gain a better understanding of why sustainable fashion matters. Guest speakers – including a Sewing Bee finalist and a retail fashion expert – share their experience and help introduce young people to wider conversations about the future of fashion. It’s a programme across Coventry and Warwickshire, including both primary and secondary schools and Community libraries for intergenerational workshops
Does it make a measurable difference?
Absolutely. Between 2022 and 2024, the programme diverted an estimated 413kg of clothing from landfill by giving unwanted textiles a second life. The programme has also worked with nine schools and established partnerships with Coventry University, Myton Hospices, Art in the Park and EcoFest, helping to extend its reach and promote sustainability within the local community.
Its impact extends beyond waste reduction. More than 15 students chose to continue their studies in textiles and visual arts after taking part, showing how the programme inspired their creativity as well as raising awareness of sustainability.
Upcycling encourages us to look at everyday materials differently, recognising their potential rather than seeing them as waste. By repairing, reusing, and transforming existing materials, we can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, develop new skills, express creativity, and make more sustainable choices in everyday life. Projects such as Let’s Create and Reuse and our Southam exhibition shows how these actions can benefit both individuals and the wider community.
If you want to find out more about Arts Uplift contact info@artsuplift.co.uk or have a look at our websitewww.artsuplift.co.uk
There’s something powerful about a piece of theatre that makes you think, feel, and leave with a better understanding of the world around you. Navigating Margaret, the dementia awareness performance, produced by Arts Uplift, does precisely that. Last year, this incredibly moving show toured across the Midlands again, leaving its mark on audiences and participants alike. It’s also the reason I joined Arts Uplift as anAdvisory Board Member.
Latest Dementia Statistics
Why is dementia awareness so important? 1 in 14 adults over 65 years have dementia and 1 in 3 people born today will develop the disease. Current statistics also show that around 1 million people are living with dementia in the UK and this is set to rise to 1.4 million by 2040 (Alzheimer’s Society).
With an increasing number of families being affected by the impact of dementia, it’s crucial that we understand how to provide support within our communities. Instead of delivering a leaflet or a lecture, Arts Uplift decided to address this issue through the power of theatre.
Navigating Margaret offers the audience a unique lens to view this condition from the perspective of someone living with dementia. I know only too well the huge impact dementia has on families as my late Mum had Alzheimer’s Disease. Apart from medical information, we didn’t understand exactly how this condition was affecting my Mum or how she might be viewing the world through her eyes.
Margaret’s Story
The production is rooted in real-life stories gathered through Arts Uplift’s Suitcase Stories project, developed in partnership with Museums Worcestershire. It follows a Worcestershire woman’s journey living with dementia and the effect it has on her family.
Margaret was one of the first women to fly an aeroplane in the county. Her life unfolds from the 1960s to the present day, looking back at her childhood and a ground-breaking, intercultural relationship. Weaving dialogue and movement with a fairy-tale quality, the play blends the real with the abstract, and four diverse professional actors bring the story to life.
Each performance is followed by a question-and-answer session featuring dementia experts, cast members, and the producer. Audiences have the chance to explore both the subject matter and the creative process behind the performance. The show is suitable for older people, professional care staff, NHS workers, health students, volunteers, carers and family members to those with early and mid-stage dementia.
The response from those who have seen Navigating Margaret speaks for itself. Audience members have described it as “wonderful, magical, informative”, noting it “helps dispel the fear and concern around dementia.” Others found it “charming and poignant,” and “a real emotional lift.”
Dementia Workshops
Alongside the performances and using excerpts from the show, a series of dementia workshops were also held. Offering a practical, interactive introduction to dementia, dementia care, and prevention, participants unanimously reported learning something new. 100% of participants said they would recommend the training.
The leading force behind Navigating Margaret is Jenny Davis, founder and director of Arts Uplift. With decades of experience in community arts, Jenny trained in drama and theatre and spent many years running youth theatres and directing productions.
When Jenny served as Arts Development Officer for Wychavon District Council from 2007, her work increasingly focused on arts, health, and older people. This included regular music workshops for people with dementia in care homes across the district.
It’s Jenny’s depth of experience, along with practical and community-focused delivery that gives Navigating Margaret its integrity. This performance will make you laugh and cry and is “a positive way of looking at how to make a difference” to build understanding and reduce stigma. It offers support and guidance to anyone touched by dementia, helping them to navigate the most challenging of human experiences.
Navigating Margaret Returns in Autumn 2026!
The good news is that the story is not over – Navigating Margaret is coming back this autumn with performances in Nuneaton, Leicester and Birmingham! The Arts Uplift team are excited to bring this to new audiences. Whether you are a carer, health professional, or simply someone who wants to understand dementia a little better, join us for this magical experience.
To find out when and how you can book a place, contact Jenny Davis: jenny@artsuplift.co.uk
🎉 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:
Portrait Photography session with Karen Divorty
Afternoon tea at Audley Binswood
Theatre tickets for The Loft Theatre
A round of 18 hole golf at Stratford Park Hotel
40 mins facial at Spa Leamington
Yoga or pilates sessions at Little Light Studios, Leamington
Cut and Blow Dry haircut with Rachel at Hair@103
60 minute treatment at Fire and Earth Leamington – this can be used for massage, sports therapy, physiotherapy or personal training.
Initial assessment podiatry appointment at Stride Clinic, Warwick
Golf performance assessment at Fade Golf in Warwick
💜 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, 10 June 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Venue : The Fold, Spencer st, Leamington Spa, CV31 3NE
🚗 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: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philipa Gregory
Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: The love of a king
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realises just how much she is a pawn in her family’s ambitious plots as the king’s interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take fate into her own hands.
A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamourous court in Europe and survived by following her heart.
🌟 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
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!
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