Accessible creativity: how one positive experience supported two families

Posted: 7th January 2026

Kate first came to Arts for Dementia workshops with her father, who was living with dementia. After his death, the experience stayed with her, not just as something meaningful they had shared together, but as something she had seen make a real difference to his confidence and wellbeing, particularly in his final months.

“Seeing how much he got out of it, and how much it brought him out of himself, it made such a positive impact on him… it felt like a gift to pass on.”

That sense of wanting to pass something on is what led Kate to invite her neighbour, Gohar, to join her at an Arts for Dementia workshop.

Coming together

Kate and Gohar attended the sessions together, travelling there and back as a pair and often sharing a coffee afterwards. This sense of companionship quickly became central to their experience.

For Gohar, who has limited sight, arriving with someone she trusted made the workshops feel immediately welcoming. She describes feeling accepted from the outset, not defined by her sight loss but received simply as herself.

“Despite my sight problem, they didn’t care. Once we started talking, I felt quite close to people.”

Both women talk about how important it was for them to be able to show up as a ‘team’, and how the relationships formed in the workshops extended beyond the sessions themselves, building a genuine sense of community.

An inclusive, sensory experience

The workshops explored a range of artforms, including embossing, felting and natural dyeing. For Gohar, the tactile nature of these activities was particularly powerful. Felting stood out as a favourite. Working with her hands, she found herself absorbed in the process, describing a sense of flow and calm. The physical act of making also unlocked memories of her childhood in Iran, where her mother had been a carpet weaver.

“It reminded me of my mother… touching the carpet while she was weaving. It’s amazing how memories can be brought back through touch.”

This multi-sensory approach meant that creativity was not dependent on sight. During group ‘show and share’ moments, facilitators made sure artworks could be experienced through touch as well as sight, enabling Gohar to fully participate and feel included.

Joy, pride and confidence

Both Kate and Gohar describe moments of joy and pride in what they created. For Gohar, finishing her felt work and tracing it with her fingers was a moment of genuine surprise and delight.

“Going over it with my fingers… it was joyful. I thought, ‘Did I really do this?”

Kate reflects on how important this kind of recognition had been for her father, too. At a stage of life when praise can be rare, the opportunity to share work with others and receive a warm response helped build unexpected confidence.

The group’s culture of valuing process over perfection was key. Imperfection was not something to avoid, but something to embrace, making it easier to relax, take part and enjoy the experience for its own sake.

Wellbeing beyond the workshops

The impact of the workshops did not stop at the studio door. Gohar shared her artwork at home with her husband, who enjoyed seeing what she had made and enjoys seeing Gohar going out and socialising.

Inspired by her positive experience, Gohar has since begun looking for other creative groups to join and has spoken about recommending similar workshops through organisations such as the RNIB. Kate, meanwhile, remains closely connected to Arts for Dementia, continuing a relationship that began with her father and has evolved into something new.

“It’s such a good experience – it unlocks things you didn’t think needed unlocking. It builds confidence and opens your eyes again.”

Kate and Gohar’s story captures the heart of Arts for Dementia’s work: creating inclusive, gentle and welcoming creative spaces where people feel safe to be themselves, build relationships, and rediscover confidence and joy through arts.

Their experience shows how creative activity can strengthen wellbeing, reduce isolation and spark connection – not only for people affected by dementia, but for the wider community around them.