Dandiya workshop at the care home

Our recent event at the care home in Brentford was a tremendous success. When we arrived, the residents were all seated in a circle, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and eager to share exercises with us. This particular care home is very close to our hearts, and the activity coordinator, Wilma, has done an outstanding job of ensuring that the staff had a wealth of activities to promote engagement. The residents always look forward to our visits for exercise sessions.

The atmosphere was vibrant and colourful as the performer played traditional music. It set the perfect tone, and everyone began to feel the energy and dance along. We continued with chair exercises, ensuring the residents felt comfortable and engaged. The staff actively participated as well; one staff member, in particular, expressed how enjoyable it was to use the dandiya as he expressed how he often rolls a pen in his fingers, so he found it quite easy to roll the dandiya. We joked how he must have done this before as he did it so seamlessly.

We also had a family member of one of the residents stand up and join in, showcasing how much fun he was having. He mentioned that it would be wonderful if we could organise more activities like this on weekends when family members visit, as they often want to join in with their loved ones.

After the performance, we received positive feedback from the attendees. We decided to hold a small meeting at a lovely café near the care home to discuss future plans. The suggested artist, Dr. Devangi, is a performer who is very keen to join us on board and help make this a successful initiative. She wants to incorporate traditional art forms into various care homes. The artist highlighted the numerous benefits these activities can bring to residents.

Furthermore, she shared that she has lost touch with other volunteers but is excited about the amazing festivals coming up. She expressed interest in collaborating on how we could incorporate schools and young children into our events, particularly with the Navratri festivals.

In summary, this event not only brought joy and cultural enrichment to the residents but also opened up pathways for future collaborations that can further enhance community engagement and well-being.