Creative Times with Guinness Care & Support Partnership

As part of the Creative Times project, in Autumn 2015 I led a series of workshops in 3 locations across South West England for the organisation Superact.  The project aimed to combat isolation and enhance quality of life by making creative activity accessible to older social care residents.

Helping older individuals of varying abilities, we created a willow peacock, reindeer, Christmas globes and a sundial.  I was incredibly impressed by the determination and creative ambitions of all the residents that I wove with!

The finished willow sculptures were displayed in a festival of creativity at the Guildhall in Bath where participants, artists, Guinness professionals and members of the public came together to admire and celebrate what had been achieved.

I was immensely proud that one of my willow peacock weaving ladies was awarded the prize for best creative contribution to the Creative Times project.

Thank you to Superact for this opportunity, to Helen Webb at the Guinness partnership for her vision and of course to all the amazing ladies and gentleman who learnt to weave willow with me and create such fantastic sculptures!

  • Bath residents with their willow peacock at the Guildhall Exhibition, Bath.
  • Devizes residents with their willow sundial at the Guildhall exhibition, Bath.
  • Trowbridge residents with their willow reindeer at the Guildhall exhibition, Bath.
  • Creating willow Catalan platters that became a sundial sculpture with residents at Devizes.
  • Bath residents making feathers for their willow peacock.
  • Trowbridge residents making willow reindeer.

Sarah Le Breton Creative Times with Guinness Care & Support Blog written for Superact:

“
During August and September, through Superact (a brilliant organisation who use creativity to improve the health and well being of communities and individuals), I have had the pleasure of running willow workshops within 3 social housing settings in Devizes, Trowbridge and Bath.  These workshops have provided the opportunity for residents to get involved in creative activities and celebrate the artistic contribution of older people.  Their artistic endeavours will now be celebrated in the accompanying exhibition at the Guildhall, in Bath from the 13th -14th October.  I have been totally amazed and thoroughly humbled by each group of residents who have created over their 3 sessions the most fantastic willow sculptures.  My belief is that everyone included those of a grand grand age can gain enjoyment and a sense of achievement from weaving willow.  Not only has this been proved to be the case, but a huge dollop of humour and friendship made these sessions such a joy to be a part of.  We have hooted with laughter when creating the willow animals, ‘I think that we should adjust those willow rods, we really don’t want a prolapsing reindeer!’ and even debated Banksy’s latest exhibition… of which it was I who was the least well informed!  I have also had the honour of being given the most wonderful words of wisdom, to be told to live life to the full and not to compromise.  I’m so looking forward to seeing everyone at the Creative Times exhibition’s private view on the 12th, thank you, it’s been an absolute privilege.”

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