Arts and Culture is Revolutionising Care Homes in the UK

CREATIVITY is being used to support residents' mental and physical health, with research showing how art can even help treat dementia. Care Homes across the country are increasingly under pressure. 'Care Home Open Day' encourages homes to open their doors to celebrate a different theme each year, with a few key values at its heart:- friendship, making connections and celebrating vulnerable people. This year the 'Care Home Open Day' theme was the role of Arts in Care.

With an aging population and local Councils cutting budgets, it's not a surprise that the mental and physical health of care workers and residents are being affected.  Multiple studies have shown how the arts have an enormous capacity to positively affect health outcomes.  For example, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing noted the growing body of evidence:- "which suggests a relationship between arts engagement and wellbeing in people with dementia." The capacity of the arts to stimulate real change should not be underestimated whether it be in the form of drama, music or art therapy. Friday, 28 June 2019 marked the 7th successful year of 'Care Home Open Day,' where care homes around the UK opened their doors showing how much of a key part the community they are.

Professor Martin Green OBE, CEO of Care England says:- "Care homes are a community's best kept secret. Whilst every day is an open day, Care Home Open Day is a particularly special event each year, whereby homes up and down the country engage in a range of different activities. Commissioners need to focus on the individual and part of that is the realisation that wellbeing is an intrinsic part of the physical, mental and emotional health of those in receipt of care. On behalf of all the many care homes participating in Care Home Open Day I would encourage you to visit if you didn't do so this year.  You will be sure to have a great day out."

In Southport, the Promenade Residential Care Home, on the Promenade, will be 1 of the many Care Homes across the country taking part in this event. Those attending where be able to look around thousands of independent care homes, meet staff, chat to residents and of course join in the party.  

For more information on Care Home Open Day visit:- CareHomeOpenDay.Org.UK.  For more information on Care England, visit:- CareEngland.Org.UK.

MPs nominate local NHS heroes to win North West awards

2 local health professionals and a mental health initiative have been named as North West Regional winners in the NHS Parliamentary Awards, after local MPs nominated them for their outstanding contribution.

All winners are from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) and have been nominated by MPs on account of a "compassionate, person centred approach to the provision of care." The winners will now be put forward for an individual national award, with the ceremony held in London on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 in the House of Commons.

CWP director of operations, Andy Styring, won the Regional Lifetime Achievement Award. He said:- "I am delighted to receive this award which I accept on behalf of all individuals who support people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. I have worked all my career to empower people to live independent lives through choice and involvement, ensuring people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. I hope this award helps to raise awareness of the importance of helping all people to be the best they can be."

Stephanie John, CWP Clinical Support worker, won the Regional Care and Compassion Award:- "It's such a surprise to win the Regional award and be shortlisted in the national category. Knowing I made such a positive difference to someone's life is something that will stay with me, and I'm so lucky to be in a career where making those differences is a part of my day to day."

Finally, CWP's Next Step Cards mental health initiative won the Regional Future NHS Award. Dr Fiona Pender, CWP consultant psychologist, comments:- "I am absolutely delighted to see the work of young people, families and Clinicians honoured in this way. Created by mental health experts and local young people, Next Step Cards is a tool to enable safe and structured conversations with young people who may be struggling with their emotional health and wellbeing. This resource takes mental health support out of the Clinic and into School and community settings."

Brazilica Announce 2019's Film Festival Programme

BRAZILICA organizers Liverpool Carnival Company is delighted to announce the return of its popular Film Festival for 2019, bringing the very best of Brazilian cinema to venues across Liverpool.  Film buffs can enjoy 5 films celebrating Brazilian life and culture, which will be screened at various venues across the City from 18 July to 30 July 2019. Brazilica Film Festival will begin at Metal, on Thursday, 18 July with the 2018 drama Rust. 2 high school students Tati and Renet share an instant connection over social media that deepens during a class trip. Rust explores the power and prevalence of social media and technology in the lives of a generation that has never known connection without it. The Kazimier Stockroom plays host to acclaimed director Miguel Gomes' black and white drama Tabu, on Tuesday, 23 July 2019. This moving poetic tale of love and friendship is told through flashbacks which detail a love affair between Aurora and Gian-Luca. Liquid Truth looks at the moral landscape of modern society highly affected by social media in this drama about a swimming instructor who has been accused of inappropriate behavior with a young boy. Taking audiences on a roller coaster of emotions it comes to FACT, on Wednesday, 24 July 2019. Capitães Da Areia tells of the life and adventures of a gang of street kids known as Capitães Da Areia (Captains of the Sands) in Salvador, Bahia, during the 1950's. Inspired by 1937 novel of the same name, it comes to VideOdyssey, on Thursday, 25 July 2019. Closing the show for 2019, the film festival returns to FACT, on Tuesday, 30 July 2019, for Pixote. This movie tells the story of homeless adolescent Pixote who becomes enmeshed in an underworld of drugs and violence. Check Brazilica.Co.UK for additional film screenings and changes to the program.  Brazilica organizer Maeve Morris said:- "We have a wonderful variety of films on offer for this year's festival. Brazilian cinema depicts fascinating stories and lives of its characters and is increasingly attractive to a global audience as well as being such a great medium for exploring Brazil's culture. I want to thank The Embassy of Brazil in London for their help and support for this year's film festival."