Gateshead Care Collective 

We provide free creative training for care settings across Gateshead, bringing together learning and peer support for care staff supporting people living with dementia. 

Our Creative Ageing training programme is funded by Gateshead Council and is open to Activity Coordinators across the borough. Each module includes creative practice exploring the different ways creativity can support communication and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

Wih workshops each month, the Care Collective provides opportunities for peer networking with staff sharing experiences, ideas and best practice for supporting people living with dementia.

All of our training is grounded in the theory of Dementia & Imagination with professional artists supporting care staff to develop creative communication techniques. We highlight the importance of creative activity in everyday life within care settings, together building confidence, skills and creative approaches to enrich lives.

This April some 25+ care staff in the collective took part in Now We See Us, a public photography and visual arts exhibition shining a light on the value and experiences of care staff in Gateshead.

Jenny Hawthorn, activities coordinator at Craigielea Care Home, said: “Moving into a care home it can be hard to lose your independence, give up your routines and your home. We work to bring those bits of normality back to their lives, to make things as normal and as enjoyable as possible.”