“It’s not just rewarding, it changes how you see everything” Mathilda’s volunteering journey

Posted: 28th April 2026

When Mathilda first discovered Arts for Dementia, it wasn’t through a job listing or a formal placement scheme. It was through an artist. “I loved how she combined her own artistic practice with social arts,” Mathilda explains. “It wasn’t separate, she brought workshops into gallery spaces and opened them up to people who might not normally be there. That felt like the perfect pathway.” That introduction led to volunteering and what began as a placement has become a deeper relationship.

From perfectionism to play

Mathilda arrived with a background in fine art and textiles, but stepping into Arts for Dementia workshops changed the way she thought about making. “In art school, there’s often this pressure that what you produce has to be perfect. But in these workshops, you don’t have time to overthink. You’re making something in five minutes to demonstrate a process and sometimes it comes out better because you haven’t overworked it.”
She was particularly struck by the accessibility of the materials.

“Within the arts industry you’re taught you need expensive equipment or specialist spaces. Here, you learn how to use simple materials, things people can use at home. It skips the money and the time barrier. That’s really powerful.”

That accessibility has influenced her own life beyond the workshops. Recently, she gathered friends in a garden with fabric scraps and sewing kits for an evening of making together. “We sat and sewed for four hours. Everyone kept saying how nice it felt, calmer, more connected. It made me realise how important it is to create spaces where people can just make without pressure.”

Person-centred, always

Although Mathilda had some previous experience in care settings, she says working with Arts for Dementia participants felt different. “It’s very person-centred. You read how someone likes to be spoken to. I’ll speak to one person differently than I speak to another. It’s about respecting people as individuals.” She’s particularly passionate about challenging stigma, both around dementia and ageing more broadly.

“People sometimes say, ‘Oh, that sounds really rewarding,’ as if that’s the main point. But I’m not there just to feel good about myself. I’m there because I enjoy being part of the group and sharing something meaningful. And people have this idea that dementia workshops are all very old, very quiet spaces. That’s not what it’s like at all. There’s humour, personality, creativity. People don’t lose who they are.”

For Mathilda, the intergenerational aspect is vital.

“I think it’s so important to have spaces where different generations mix. We don’t have that enough anymore. Here, you see friendships form. You see confidence build. You see people treated as human beings.”

Finding confidence and a future path

Volunteering has also transformed how Mathilda sees herself. “It’s really helped my confidence in teaching. I always knew I could show someone how to do something, but I didn’t think it could be a viable career path.” Now, she does. “I’d love to have my own practice and also continue community workshops. You can do both. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.”

She’s become an advocate among her peers, encouraging fellow art students to consider community work. “So many graduates struggle to find jobs and don’t realise this is an option. With Arts for Dementia, you can dip your toe in. It’s flexible. It builds skills. It keeps you making.” In fact, she believes she’s made more work during her volunteering period than during some stretches of university, precisely because the pressure is different. “There’s no pressure to be perfect. You just start.”

“It keeps the fire alive!”

When asked what she loves most about volunteering, Mathilda doesn’t hesitate. “The social side. Hearing everyone’s stories. Watching friendships form. Seeing confidence grow.”

And perhaps most importantly:

“It keeps a fire alive in people and in me. Creativity shouldn’t stop at a certain age. It shouldn’t be something you grow out of. We should always have spaces where we can keep learning and making.”

 

Interested in volunteering with us?

Our volunteers receive training, guidance, and valuable experience, working with some incredible artists and arts venues. If you would like to join our small family of volunteers you can find out more and apply here.