Shaftesbury Brookside is getting artsy this spring, supported by some top-ranking musicians and artists. Following our previous blog, which looked at the difference that community partners’ support makes to our work, we talk to staff and people who live at Brookside about their experience.
It’s not every day that prestigious art and music organisations rock up and invite people with disabilities to work with them. But this spring Brookside, Shaftesbury’s residential care home in London, has welcomed the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Academy, who are running interactive, accessible art and music-making projects at Brookside over the next few months. Senior staff members Pav Hughes and Shukri Khader explain what’s been going on, and Brookside’s housemates share their reactions.
Accessible art
When did Shaftesbury Brookside start working with the Royal Academy?
Pav: Last year, Shaftesbury’s community fundraising team pitched for us to take part in the Royal Academy’s (RA) communities programme, which brings accessible art sessions to people with disabilities. The people we support created some fantastic paintings which now hang in our entrance hall. We were delighted when the RA said they wanted to work with us again, which is something they don’t usually do.
Why did they decide to give Shaftesbury Brookside another opportunity?
Pav: I think it was the relationship they built with the service and the people we support. The feedback I initially got was that they were so impressed at how the staff got involved and how welcoming and accommodating we were to the project. They said they go to other services and they don’t get behind it. So they said it was really good to see how the whole staff team were engaged.
Shukri: And we’re behind it as managers. It helped the RA team to build a relationship with the people we support. And it was so successful.
What are the sessions like?
Pav: The people we support were a bit hesitant at the first session – I think about three or four people joined in at the start. I remember walking into that room and people weren’t really engaging – they were a bit unsure. And then I walked into one of the later sessions and the atmosphere in the lounge was just electrifying. The room was full – there were about ten people, tables put together and music playing and they’re just painting away. It was really, really different.
As the sessions progressed, the people we support kept asking, can you come back? Because they didn’t want it to end. The staff that were assigned to the tasks as well; they’ve really helped motivate the residents and get involved.
What’s the focus for your 2025 RA collaboration?
Pav: Well, last year, independent of the RA work, people at Brookside decided to try creating a wishing tree, where they could attach a wish – something they wanted to happen or to achieve. For one resident, Pete, his dream of renewing his wedding vows with Debbie came true, with staff support, which he said was the happiest day of his life. As the RA sessions went on, Brookside residents came up with the idea of creating a bigger tree out of clay. Each person will have a personalised branch where they hang their own wish. That’s what we’ll be working on over the eight or so sessions this year, with a ceramicist. She’s planning how we’ll do this. We want to position the tree in the entrance to be a big feature when you come in.
Inclusive music
What’s happening with the London Philharmonic Orchestra?
Shukri: They have a fantastic inclusive music-making project called OrchLab and we’ve been lucky enough to work with them, thanks again to community fundraising’s efforts. They make playing music possible for everyone, with accessible music technology along with traditional instruments.
How’s that going?
Shukri: So far, we’ve had an introduction when they got to know us and then a couple of sessions when they brought the instruments to see who would play which one. Some people can play percussion, like maracas and tambourines, or adapted instruments, and others will use iPads via a smart keyboard, which looks like piano keys, and produces sounds. They will film some sessions and, in the autumn,, there’ll be a special celebration with the film at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The whole idea is enabling people to make their own music.
OrchLab were very professional and knew exactly what they were doing and what key instruments or what equipment is suitable for each individual. They didn’t even need to ask us, which I found amazing.
Pav: The orchestra also invited people to come to a rehearsal at the Royal Festival Hall and the people we support really, really enjoyed it.
Shukri: They’ll also be training staff on how to carry on in the future because that’s part of the project, to keep music making after OrchLab is over. They’ve very kindly given us four iPads for this and there’s online support too.
Pav: We want to develop those skills in our staff team, which we’re working on, so that they have the confidence and the skills to lead an art activity or a music session or whatever activities the residents want.
All together better for disability
What do the people you support get out of arts ventures like this?
Shukri: They just love to do things with their hands – love creating things. I think it’s giving people the ability and confidence to express themselves. That’s what I’ve seen with the art and with the music.
Pav: And it’s something different.
How does the community fundraising team’s work on this help you and the people you support?
Pav: Well, we don’t have to worry about the extra staff costs, plus we are given all the material by these two wonderful community partners, OrchLab and the RA. Without community fundraising doing all the legwork and liaison, we wouldn’t be able to provide activities with this kind of depth and expertise, which really opens windows to new things for the disabled people we support.