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We provide Hospice care & support to patients and their loved ones living in Kent and East Sussex. Learn more about how we can help you.
Friendship and camaraderie
Kevin hasn’t painted since school but has rekindled his interest in art by attending the group, and like many who come along, he enjoys the social aspect.
“It’s not so much the painting, it’s the camaraderie, it gives you a little break from your normal life, you meet different people and of course, I enjoy the painting as well. I’m no artist but I do enjoy it,” he says.
“This group benefits me immensely and so do the other couple of groups I belong to. I think they’re good for your mental health, we’re all here because we’ve got health issues and I think this just gets you away from all that for a couple of hours.
“I haven’t really done any painting since I left school, I always liked art when I was a kid, but I haven’t done it for probably 50 years since then. It’s only when I came to this group that I started taking an interest in it again. So now I’m getting a bit obsessive with it, I’m in my shed whenever I can, trying to paint something.
“Living Well helps you because it gets you out of your normal routine and gives you a sense of wellbeing from being here and meeting different people,” he adds.
Rekindling interests
Paul attends the group with his stepdad, Geoffrey who has been artistic all his life, and with a keen interest in watercolour painting, he was excited to try something new and give acrylics a go.
“I do a lot in the day, and I don’t get much time for myself, so having signed up for the Acrylic Painting Group, it makes you do something that’s very enjoyable and takes your mind off things that aren’t so positive,” shares Paul.
“Now, any free time I have, whether it’s here or at home, tends to be consumed by acrylic painting. I’ve bought all the kit, it’s enjoyable and it sucks you in, it’s been great. The Hospice generally have been absolutely fantastic. I have to say that they’re the only corporation that have come up with the goods and gone above and beyond with help. They treat you like a VIP as soon as you arrive and that continues. They’ve been so helpful and coming here just gives you that time to switch off.”
Thinking about the refurbishment of Living Well during our Shaping our Future transformation programme, Paul adds: “I’m really looking forward to seeing Living Well after the refurbishment. The colours they’ve chosen look great, right up my street and I think it’ll look lovely. I think everyone has that same opinion. Even though to me it looked fine before, it’s been the same way for quite a few years, so it’ll be a nice change for us and for the people who are here every day.”
Volunteering joy
The sessions are run by Ruth and Alison, Creative Art Volunteers, who create a relaxed and encouraging environment.
“People attending the acrylics class can be in the flow and not think about anything else. You don’t have to be good at art, you don’t have to be the best at it, you can just have a go and embrace your mistakes, as there’s no mistakes in art. It’s really good for people to just come and forget about everything else and have fun!” explains Ruth.
“I volunteer because I’m pretty much semi-retired from 35 years as a nurse and emergency nurse practitioner. I wanted to still be able to care for and help people, as that’s what I’m used to doing and enjoy, and also, I love art, so I get to combine both.
“I’m really excited about the Living Well refurbishment. It’s a really good, big space upstairs, it’s got a lot of natural light and access to the garden and it’s quite a free space as well. I think everybody here loves going to it and it’ll look even better when the refurbishment is finished,” she says.
