Self determination
In my daily work, I research new models to support disabled people. I am passionate about the move towards choice and control for people with disabilities.
Published in
on 9 May 2014
A series of case studies exploring the role and effectiveness of the creative arts in supporting positive outcomes for people being supported by social services.
This series also includes Creative Bites (Bite-sized chunks of creativity). We invited 40 people to share their thoughts and ideas to inspire creativity and imagination in the social services.
The relevance of design research for social services
I consider myself a bit of a magpie; a bit of a scavenger when it comes to research: I’m opportunistic, interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial. My current design research projects are varied; one explores how digital technologies can help people engage with the arts, another is about using design to help the government procure better services, which I recently presented in Helsinki, and another is about the role design plays in innovation. A broad range of projects. All design research. So what’s the relevance of these kinds of projects to social services?
My thoughts so far:
Published in
on 9 May 2014
Why the arts matter
I've always had a passion for the arts - whether it's music, visual art, or performance art. I’ve spent most of my career working in adult social care training and development. I've always said that being a trainer is a bit like being a writer and a performer and that the more you can entertain people when you are teaching the more they are likely to learn.
Published in
on 9 May 2014
I’m in control, not the computer
One aspect of my job is writing the code behind websites. It can be a hugely satisfying job but at the same time a very solitary one, struggling to solve a bug can sometimes take many hours and when solved there’s almost always no one who knows that you’ve been struggling.
One thing that helps me concentrate is listening to music. It’s not that I find the office too noisy or even that I’m easily distracted (which I am really). I just like good tunes.
Published in
on 8 May 2014
Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust
Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) believes in the power of the arts to enhance quality of life, to promote inclusion, to empower and to improve well being. THAT was established in 2002 to meet the demand for an agency to develop Arts in Health opportunities across Tayside and it now employs professional artists to deliver partnership programmes in both inpatient and community settings.
Published in
on 6 May 2014
Tuning in: The social power of music
This session was delivered by Jane Bentley who specialises in the role of music making in social development. Jane expertly led the group in a variety of practical exercises designed to highlight how music connects us together. Watch this clip to get a flavour of the key messages and activities from the day.
Published in
on 2 May 2014
Impact Arts
building confidence, communication and teamwork skills
This Session introduced the Impact Arts creative pathways approach and delivery methods which build confidence, communication and teamwork skills. We reflected on how these processes could be applied in different settings.
Published in
on 2 May 2014
Creative practice as research, and research as creative practice
This session explored the overlap between creative practice and learning. We shared lots examples of playful research and discussed their impact. We also created the space for people to generate ideas for creative projects in their own area of work.
Notes
Published in
on 2 May 2014
Hot Chocolate – young people as designers of change
This session was delivered by Hot Chocolate Trust, a youth work organisation that specialises in supporting young people to develop their own opportunities so that skills and confidence are developed. This session highlighted recent research with young people into the role of creativity and design in their lives.
Published in
on 2 May 2014
The Impact of Creative Caring in Older People’s Care Homes
Creative Carers is a training programme that instils a broad sense of creativity into older people's care homes, developed by Suffolk Artlink in partnership with artists Caroline Wright and Helen Rousseau.
Published in
on 2 May 2014
