An Artistic Innovation

This story was written for the Wood & Vale, during my ongoing work experience, appearing on page 11.

Home Is Where The Art Is

Residents of the Westmead Elderly Resource Centre performed a musical extravaganza on Friday, displaying a fine ear for a tune.

Many of the residents of Westmead suffer from various forms of dementia, a particular issue which the music project aimed to tackle.

The performance, part of the Westmead Music Project, was conducted by musicians Fraser Trainer and Pete Whyman.

Pete Whyman performing alongside Westmead residents

The show was one of a number being organised by Westminster Arts, in an ongoing project to build partnerships with Westminster Adult Services, offering a growing expertise in the link between the arts and social care.

Kevin Williamson, Head of Housing and Care Services, said: “We had three or four generations of people gathered together here. Through this project, we aim to challenge people’s perceptions of the elderly.

“We hope to develop something quite innovative, to find ways of giving the staff at the home a different way to offer care. We would like to leave a certain legacy behind, to provide staff with the tools to engage the residents on a different level.”

Pete Whyman

Musician Fraser Trainer has worked with the residents and staff of Westmead, alongside his colleague Pete Whyman, for the past four weeks in preparation for the grand performance. He said:

“It was so nice to see so many smiling faces together in the room. It’s been a huge journey for us.

"The residents composed at least fifty per cent of the final piece. Through this process, we tried to work on the strengths of everyone involved, to come up with innovative ways of challenging and dealing with things that could be viewed as weaknesses.”

The final piece was inspired by the lives, personalities, experiences, and imaginations of both the residents and the care workers.

Anything Goes!

A CD of the final performance is being produced for everybody involved. A DVD documenting the journey, including the final performance, is also under production.

Resident Vera Chapra was hugely impressed by the performance. “It was really very, very nice” she exclaimed. “Absolutely marvellous!”

Report:

This story was sourced from a Westminster Arts Council press release. It concerned an extremely innovative approach by the council towards social care, particularly in the field of dementia, culminating in a diary event that I was able to cover in person.

It was written for my local newspaper, the Wood & Vale, to the appropriate length.

Access to sources was relatively straight forward at the event itself, though due to being in a social care environment, I had to cover things from a passive position, so as not to appear overtly intrusive.

The story turned out to be quite visual, with the active participation of the residents themselves adding to the visuals.

The story also raises very interesting points concerning the approach to care in the community, and as a result, is of interest to readership on a local level.

I used this innovative approach as the angle for the story, with the quotes I obtained reflecting and building on this angle.

Once again, the video I was able to gather compliments the story, bringing the subject to life on the screen, along with the sound, and the captions also add a little more relevant information.

The only troublesome issue came when attempting to source quotes from the residents themselves, though this was overcome through approaching staff carers, and asking them to approach the residents on my behalf, which, after a little gentle persuasion, they were happy to do!