From singing to reminiscence, poetry reading to breadmaking… there have been many a varied activity happening as part of the Buckinghamshire Culture Social Prescribing Pilot Project this year.
Funded by the Clare Foundation and Buckinghamshire Council, cultural organisations attended an experiential training day to learn more about the process and framework of social prescribing. This led to the formation of five collaborative and evaluated projects designed to sit under the Social Prescribing umbrella, mentored by Jacqui Gellman.
Cue 34 and the National Trust Hughenden joined forces to offer a series of six shared reading sessions, “Tea and Tales Together”, to support wellbeing and to provide a place to share thoughts, insights, feelings and memories evoked by poetry.
There were two runs of sessions, the first in the summer and the second in late September to early October. The sessions ran in conjunction with Hughenden’s theme of floriology – the language of flowers. Trained Reader Leader, Elizabeth Went, selected themed poems each week. The participants read these poems and discussed the imagery, ideas and memories they inspired.
“Tea and Tales Together is a very unique experience. The type of event, the location, the host were just perfect. It was nice just to use this time to slow down and share a quiet space to mull over poems, without the need to rush but let yourself go. The whole experience has taught me to enjoy more quiet moments and be myself, open myself and discover new ways of being. Elizabeth was great and I hope to attend more events in the future.”
Participant at Hughenden
Amersham Museum took the opportunity to bolster and re-frame its existing reminiscence and singing programme for older people by offering a series of free sessions, employing a renewed emphasis on promoting its health and wellbeing benefits, making links with the local Social Prescribers and piloting two additional sessions combining objects and music run by Chiltern Music Therapy. The project enabled Amersham Museum to evaluate its provision, make new contacts and trial different sessions, all of which will be built into its future planning.
Queens Park Arts Centre in Aylesbury and Sing Your Pain Away partnered to provide a singing for health social prescribing project, in a safe and welcoming environment. The programme ran for 7 weeks over June/July 2023 and engaged with 18 individuals. The opportunity was open to adults who were in physical or emotional pain and/or were living with a long-term physical or mental health condition. These included anxiety, depression, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, asthma, osteoarthritis, hearing disabilities, cancer, IBS and thyroid problems. The programme was suitable for people who had never sung in a choir or had not done so for some time and was free for participants to attend. Together, they enjoyed singing songs from shows, the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, the odd sea shanty as well as some new material.
“The Sing for pain therapy sessions have been amazing! They have helped more than I ever thought possible.”
Participant at QPAC
Building on the success of the award-winning Accompanied Walks programme, Chiltern Open Air Museum set out to provide a pathway for deeper engagement with the Museum, including those who may have already benefited from one or more Accompanied Walks.
The project, Summer Wellbeing Socials, comprised a series of activities, with specialist workshop leaders, designed to promote the health and wellbeing of the elderly community (65+) who suffer from social isolation, and who may have other conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Along with the benefits of being outdoors, the activities were also designed to promote cognitive stimulation, the use of fine motor skills and the opportunity to interact with others who may have shared experiences. 18 people (individuals, couples, and mothers with supporting daughters) registered for the programme. The overarching aim of the Summer Wellbeing Socials was to elevate mood, confidence and sociability. All collected data indicates that the programme met, if not exceeded, its objectives with the addition of two participants signing up to become COAM Volunteers and the group self-organising to meet up monthly for coffee.
“Mum and I loved our Thursday afternoons at the group. Thank you so very much for your vision of creating a great opportunity for vulnerable people to socialise in a safe environment and to partake in activities that are stimulating and rewarding.”
Participant at COAM
Music Nature Create and Wycombe Museum are partnering on a 4-week pilot project this November. The sessions are designed to provide a space for families with pre-schoolers who would benefit by making connections with others. This is particularly aimed at those affected by the Pandemic, or for any other reason experiencing a degree of isolation since having children. The sessions are an opportunity for parents to take part in a relaxed and creative session with their baby or young child. Music Nature Create (run by Rosie Axon and Kasia Sikora-Black, directors of Chiltern Music Therapy) harnesses the combined therapeutic benefits of singing and music-making and connecting with nature.
We are pleased to share the final report for the project, which shares an overview of the impact of each pilot, as well as recommendations for next steps. Please download it here:
If you would like to know more, please contact Jacqui Gellman at jacqui.gellman@gmail.com or on 07951 083 380.
The pilot project is funded by The Clare Foundation and Buckinghamshire Council
Buckinghamshire Culture 
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