ARTISTS across Coventry and Warwickshire are helping defeat the loneliness of self-isolation.
A coronavirus programme has been held across the county to create new activities designed to beat the isolation that some people have experienced due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Warwickshire County Council-funded programme will continue until September.
It includes pottery for young people in a supported housing scheme, online sewing, singing and drama classes for older people in care homes and people isolated at home, choir practice for people with respiratory difficulties and creative printed activities distributed in hospitals and the community.
Associate director of Public Health Warwickshire Emily van der Venter said: “Research shows creative activities like these can have a huge impact on people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. Here in Warwickshire, new links have been forged between arts groups and groups of people at risk of isolation through their disability, illness, age or a host of other reasons. We believe this approach could be a blueprint to help us develop our work with arts organisations and target activity on those people who need our help the most, at the same time reducing their dependency on health services.”
Warwickshire County Council health spokesman Les Caborn, said: “It has been great to see these activities get underway. We have seen people colouring in, dancing in their chairs, singing, painting, working with clay…all kinds of activity can help you feel better and help you make a connection with others, even in these difficult times.”
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