Upstream Healthy Living Centre is part of the Time for Life consortium providing community mentoring for people (aged 50 or over) who have suffered some kind of downturn in their lives – for example bereavement, illness, disability – which has led to them becoming isolated, depressed or otherwise at risk of social exclusion and further dependence and ill-health.
Upstream has had mentors for some years who work on a one-to-one basis with many older people. They help people build their confidence and achieve things they really want to do. Often this involves encouraging them to join in the many stimulating creative and social activities that they run.
As part of this work, they set up a series of ‘movement to music classes’ in Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton. As a celebratory end to these classes all the groups met together for a combined performance and an opportunity to share with their friends and family what they had learned. As part of their show they danced to a wide range of music and performed in costumes with headdresses, masks and feathers. In the finale everyone danced with huge amounts of energy and vigour to S Club 7 ‘Reach for the stars.’
Over 100 people took part in the preliminary classes and more than 40 on the final day; some were able to dance for the whole class whilst others danced from sitting or with support from a chair. The classes have a real mixture of men and women from 60 to over 80 years. Some have been widowed and want to make new friends, some are carers for their partners and come to enjoy some well-deserved time out and some live in residential homes and enjoy getting out and meeting new friends.
Dance Teacher Sue Way explained the thinking behind the classes, “We want everyone to enjoy the classes so I start with music and material that is familiar to everyone. Some are more able than others and dance the whole of the class whereas some are less able or are recovering after an operation and so need to move with care. These classes have created opportunities for older people to reconnect with the dancer inside them and the joy that dancing brings.”
Claire Whewell, Project Manager at Upstream said, “It is wonderful to see so many people who have had to overcome real challenges in their lives taking part and enjoying this group activity and great to see so many of our mentors taking part in support of them. Groups like ‘Movement to Music’ can really help people who are feeling isolated and lonely to start living again, to enjoy themselves and have some fun. It makes life so much more interesting and fulfilling for them.”
Ann Callender (aged 76 years) is a member of the Tiverton group. She explained why she enjoys the classes so much, “Sue is such a marvellous teacher; she really makes you want to do it. I live on my own and so I come to the classes with my friend Glenys and we have such a good time. All my troubles seem to go away when I am dancing, I love it.”
At the end of the show they performed their own version of Swan Lake before enjoying a well-earned cup of tea and a piece of lovely home made cake.
Funding for these classes came from Sport Relief and Time for Life which is funded by Devon County Council, Devon Primary Care Trust and the Department of Health.
Reaching for the stars
