AN arts group has raised around £2,800 towards providing new nature-inspired workshops for people living with dementia in five Forest care homes.

Cinderford-based Artspace is aiming to push the total up to £5,000 to expand its mindSCAPE project, via a crowdfunding appeal and match-funding from Arts Council England (ACE), but only has until Thursday, July 12, to acheive its target.

The group has also received the good news that ACE will continue to fund its existing work for three years, following the ending of lottery funding in March.

Spokeswoman Hannah Elton-Wall said of the crowdfunding campaign: ‘We are only a couple of weeks in and we’ve been overwhelmed by the support it has received so far, not only through donations coming in, but also by the willingness of our supporters to share our message via social media.

“We’ve amassed 53 project backers and 286 people have shared our campaign through their social networks.” 

The aim of the project is to help improve the well-being and quality of life of residents living with dementia by enabling them to re-connect to nature through art.

Artspace is an independent arts charity which has been working with the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to deliver mindSCAPE for the last four years.

“The project helps people living with dementia and their carers to reconnect with the beautiful landscape of the area through taking part in creative activities,” added Hannah.

“It is a free to attend programme of innovative and inspiring workshops that bring together people, art and nature, improving the well-being and quality of life of participants and helping them to feel more a part of their communities.”

Lottery funding for the project came to an end on March 18, but Artspace has recently received the news that Arts Council England are going to fund the project for the next three years, via their ‘Celebrating Age’ programme.

This means, they can continue to run their popular group at the Orchard Trust in Lydbrook, and allows them to launch some new groups at other locations in the community too.

After visiting the mindSCAPE group, Arts Council England assessor Donna Baber said: “I had the absolute pleasure of doing three Arts Council England artistic quality assessments for this project recently. 

“It’s completely brilliant, makes an outstanding impact on the lives of people with dementia and their carers and works with inspiring and excellent artists”. 

Artspace is confident that the mindSCAPE project works and now wants to engage with even more people across the Forest of Dean and in particular, those living in residential care.

To find out more and to donate, visit https://chuffed.org/project/mindscape.