Inspiring art classes reconnect older people in Surrey

This summer Reconnections, a part of our wider Community Services groups, launched OASIS, a pioneering pilot project that uses art to ease social isolation, in collaboration with charity Paintings in Hospitals.

The OASIS project aims to prevent loneliness by connecting participants with art, creative activities and communities of like-minded people. The programme consisted of five interactive group sessions each exploring a different art technique, including drawing, photography, pottery, painting and digital.

Many of the sessions took participants outside to be inspired by nature. The first OASIS meeting, focusing on drawing, saw participants visit a local park and have a go at sketching ducks with their non-dominant hand, which exercises a different part of your brain.

One participant remarked how they hadn’t picked up a pencil in 25 years but had now become “addicted to sketching again”.

The group also explored how different tools create different artistic effects. The fourth session focused on painting, with participants experimenting with using sponges, brushes and fingers. People painted butterflies, flowers, ships at sea and space scenes using acrylic paint.

One participant said after a session: “I’ve had the best afternoon. Really enjoyed it and I’ve learnt lots.”

Cara Read, Reconnections Service Manager at Independent Age said: “We know that older people can be at an increased risk of isolation, and the pandemic only made this worse. That’s why we’re so passionate about bringing people together as we get back to normal.

“We’re really pleased to see how our participants have grown in confidence as they’ve experimented with their art. OASIS is a testament to the power of connecting people through their individual passions. We’re now very excited to hold more OASIS series in the future.”

Sandra Bruce-Gordon, Director & Chief Executive at Paintings in Hospitals said “The OASIS project is the brainchild of Joanna Brendon MBE, who has supported Paintings in Hospitals to ensure that the project reaches people in need throughout the country. We hope that many more people will be able to rekindle creative interests and discover new connections through OASIS as we roll out the project in regions across the UK.”

If you’d like to learn more about our brilliant Community Services teams and how you can get involved, click here.