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  • Home
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • Annual Report 2019/2020
  • Annual Report 2020/2021
  • Annual Report 2021/2022
  • Annual Report 2022/2023
  • Annual Report 2023/2024
  • Get Involved
  • Meet The Team
  • Work With Us
  • Become A Trustee
  • Creative workshops
  • Our Work
  • Creative Care Homes
  • Learning In The Lounge
  • Projects
  • Training
  • Dementia & Imagination
  • Care Home Choir
  • HenPower
  • Creative Ageing Conference
  • News
  • Reading with Dementia
  • Open Ended Books
  • Contact

Tommy Appleby

Tommy Appleby, 89, joined Equal Arts sessions after caring for his wife Irene for 25 years.

“Equal Arts saved my life you know. I know it sounds dramatic, but it’s the truth. I was in a very bad way and felt very unlike meself. I was at rock bottom.

“I’d lost me wife one year previous. I was lost meself. I didn’t know where to go or what to do with meself. I did everything for her. I always put her first.  When she died, I didn’t know what to do anymore. I only knew how to look after her. I’d never lived.

“But then I got in with Equal Arts and you’ve changed the way I see things. I’m never in now.

“My advice to people what’s low is to say ‘do a new interest, something that’ll challenge ya.’ I mean, I was lukewarm about the hens at first, but when I think back now, I’ve never regretted it. I never miss a session.

“I’ve made some great friends through HenPower. What I like about the HenPower is that you’re not entertained, you’re involved. You make decisions for yourself and you work as a group. I love to tell everyone how it’s changed my life, about how it’s changing older people’s lives.

“When Irene was ill, it was hard to think about getting to the end of the day, now I wonder what we’ll be doing all the time. I’m always off talking to people. It keeps your mind active.”

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We can be found at

Equal Arts, Newcastle City Library, 33 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle, NE1 8AX

Charity No: 517352 Company No: 1992359

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