Arts Care, Northern Ireland’s leading arts in health charity, is delighted to announce the launch of Skylarks, a vibrant new creative programme designed to bring joy, connection, and creative engagement to older adults, including those living with dementia, in residential and day care settings across Northern Ireland.

Supported by £8,500 from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme, funded by the National Lottery and supported by the Public Health Agency, Skylarks builds on Arts Care’s long-standing success with its Clown Doctor service, adapting its unique creative approach to work with older people.

The programme features music, storytelling, gentle circus skills, dance, reminiscence, and creative play, all delivered by specially trained Skylarks artists, experienced performers who have adapted their costumes, characters and creative methods to suit this new audience.

Skylarks was initially piloted at Adelaide House in South Belfast through the Here and Now programme, supported by the Public Health Agency. Following the success of this pilot, the Arts and Older People funding is allowing Arts Care to expand Skylarks into a wider Northern Ireland pilot, bringing creative sessions to residential homes and day care settings across several geographic areas.

The Belfast Trust is also supporting the programme through its Older Active Connected Programme, with Skylarks sessions scheduled in residential homes throughout March, offering even more opportunities for older people to experience the uplifting power of creativity.

In residential and day care settings, older people, particularly those living with dementia,  often experience isolation and loneliness, which can significantly affect their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Barry Macaulay CEO of Arts Care said: “The greatest demand for our art facilitation services undoubtedly comes from Residential care facilities, whether it is visual art, dance/movement, or music. The addition of the Skylarks service to our portfolio is so exciting as it brings a range of these art forms together, and we are really looking forward to seeing the tangible benefits this project will bring to residents and staff in the care facilities”

Research shows that social isolation can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. By providing creative activities that encourage self-expression and meaningful connection, Skylarks helps to alleviate these feelings and foster a sense of community and belonging.

The Skylarks programme is designed not just to entertain, but to support the holistic wellbeing of older people by nurturing emotional and psychological health alongside physical care needs.

Each session provides opportunities for storytelling, laughter, music, movement, and gentle interaction, all tailored to the individual and the group, creating joyful moments and positive memories for participants and staff alike.

Lizzie Devlin, Community Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “Thanks to The National Lottery players and the Public Health Agency, we’re delighted to support Arts Care with this project. Research has proven that taking part in arts activities can raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation, as well as aid in relieving stress.  The National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for older people to take part in arts activities, enriching their lives for the better.

“The arts have a vital role to play in helping our older people find their voice, bring people together and promote positive physical and mental health – funding from The National Lottery has been a game changer in helping us achieve that.”

Arts Care will continue to build on the early success of Skylarks, exploring further opportunities to embed creativity into care settings across Northern Ireland and ensuring older people, including those living with dementia, have access to engaging, artist-led activities that enhance their quality of life.

For more information about Skylarks and Arts Care’s work in health and social care settings, go to www.artscare.co.uk

If your organisation is interested in booking the Skylarks or simply want to find out more about the programme, please contact Julianne Skillen on 02890311122 or via julianne@artscare.co.uk.

Statement from the Connswater Creatives & Community Organisations

The abrupt decision to close Connswater Shopping Centre with just two weeks’ notice has left multiple community, arts, and charitable organisations facing immediate displacement and severe operational and financial challenges. 

The closure, set for Friday 21 March 2025, was announced without prior consultation or consideration for the impact on local organisations and service users, who are often generally vulnerable and/or with high needs.

The organisations affected, including Arts Care, Open Arts, Fighting Words NI, Strand Arts Centre, Platform Arts, Home-Start and the Men’s Shed have been integral in revitalising the centre as a community and creative hub, providing vital arts, education, mental health, and disability services. The sudden closure will result in disruptions to essential programmes, financial losses exceeding £200,000, and the loss of a safe, accessible space for local residents.

Failure to Consult and Lack of Transparency

The closure has come as a shock to tenants who had long-term investment plans based on assurances from Connswater Shopping Centre’s management. 

Despite organisations collectively investing in their units, and despite previous expectations that the centre would continue operating for at least another year, the closure was announced on 7 March 2025 with a demand for all tenants to vacate by 21 March 2025.

There has been no meaningful engagement from the receivers BDO or managing agents CBRE, to explore alternative solutions or to provide support for the organisations affected. Many of the tenants are charities, non-profits, and grassroots community organisations that do not have the financial reserves to relocate at short notice. 

This lack of communication and engagement has led to widespread disruption and uncertainty for organisations, staff, volunteers, and service users.

Severe Impact on Community and Arts Programmes

The closure of Connswater Shopping Centre will have far-reaching consequences for the local community, particularly for the elderly, disabled people, young people, and vulnerable groups who regularly use the space.

• Arts and Disability Services – Open Arts, which provides creative opportunities for disabled people, will lose the home of the only full Javanese gamelan orchestra in Northern Ireland, a uniquely accessible music resource that has benefited thousands of participants over three decades.
• Arts and Community Wellbeing – Arts Care will lose its gallery, dance studio, music space, and ceramic kiln, disrupting creative wellbeing programmes that have benefited people of all ages, including older residents and those with mental health challenges. The space has been a key hub for exhibitions, arts therapy, and movement-based projects, providing a vital social and creative outlet for the community. With £30,000 invested in refurbishments, the closure presents significant financial and logistical challenges. The sudden eviction jeopardises the continuity of creative health initiatives in East Belfast, impacting service users, artists, and local community groups.
• Creative and Educational Programmes – Fighting Words NI has supported thousands of children and young people in developing their writing skills. The loss of a dedicated creative space will make it significantly harder to run workshops, especially for neurodiverse and disabled children who rely on tailored environments.
• Film and Performing Arts – Strand Arts Centre has been using Connswater as a temporary home while its main cinema undergoes refurbishment. The loss of this space will halt dementia-friendly screenings, youth film workshops, and historical talks that have engaged hundreds of people weekly.
• Studio and Exhibition Space – Platform Arts, a hub for contemporary artists, will lose its studio spaces, forcing artists out with no immediate relocation options. The loss of dedicated workspaces for artists could result in financial instability and lost income.
• Community Social Services – Home-Start, Men’s Shed and other community organisations have used Connswater as a safe, welcoming space for families, mental health support groups, and elderly residents. Without an alternative location, many of these essential services will be significantly disrupted or forced to close entirely.

Financial and Logistical Crisis

The financial repercussions of this closure are extensive. Many organisations invested heavily in refurbishments, including improvements to accessibility, heating, and lighting, with the expectation that they would be able to use the space for the foreseeable future. 

We believe there is likely to have been more than £200,000 spent collectively across organisations on improving their units, and now that investment is being wasted with no recourse for compensation.

The cost of relocation, moving equipment, finding new venues, and re-establishing programmes is beyond the financial capabilities of many tenants. The short timeframe has made it nearly impossible to secure new premises that meet the needs of the displaced organisations. 

This situation is particularly damaging for groups that work with disabled individuals, older people, and those with additional needs, as suitable spaces that meet accessibility standards are in short supply.

Signed:

Barry Macauley, CEO, Arts Care

Eileen Branagh, CEO, Open Arts

Mimi Turtle, CEO, Strand Arts Centre

Hilary Copeland, Director, Fighting Words NI

Platform Arts

Home Start

John Lavery, Secretary, Men’s Shed

Larne social enterprise Access Employment Limited (AEL) has announced the launch of their new website creategifts.co.uk to expand their range of personalised and customised gifts.

Since its establishment two years ago, Create Gifts has focused on supplying bulk merchandise, corporate gifts, and awards to businesses. 

The launch of its personalised gifts range marks a significant expansion, offering engraved and full-colour personalisation options across a variety of products.

Jackie Reid, Head of Business at Create Gifts, said: “Create Gifts is a Social Enterprise of AEL. For the last two years we have concentrated predominantly on bulk merchandise, corporate gifts and awards to businesses, but now we are delighted to announce that we have extended our product range and are launching our personalised gifts range.

“Here at Create Gifts, we believe that a personalised gift shows a deeper level of thoughtfulness and care, as it is specifically tailored to a person’s interests and memories. 

“This makes the gift more unique and meaningful, and demonstrates that the giver took the time to create something special for them. Our personalised gifts selection includes engraved and full-colour personalisation, perfect for everyone and for every occasion.”

The expanded product range includes personalised items such as pink sparkly thermal water bottles, Northern Ireland slang mugs, personalised photo slates, and a variety of Mother’s Day gifts, including customised egg boards, ‘10 Reasons Why I Love Mum’ hearts, and Mother’s Day mugs.

Beyond its product offering, Create Gifts is committed to making a positive social impact by providing work experience and training opportunities to individuals with additional needs, learning disabilities, health conditions, and social disadvantage.

Laura Steele, CEO of AEL, said the new website is just another way AEL is delivering on its mission to offer opportunities for vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals.

She explained: “This is a very exciting time for all of us, and especially for our trainees. But Create Gifts is more than just a gift store! Here at AEL, our businesses, like Create Gifts, provide work experience and training to individuals with additional needs, learning disabilities, health conditions and social disadvantage. 

“When you make a purchase at Create Gifts, you are gifting with a purpose, and helping us to help others.”

AEL, Northern Ireland’s first social enterprise, was founded in 1998 to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work. It operates a range of commercial ventures, reinvesting 100% of profits into sustaining and expanding these initiatives.

By purchasing from Create Gifts, customers are not only receiving high-quality, customised gifts but also directly supporting employment and training opportunities for individuals who may otherwise struggle to access the workforce.

For more information go to creategifts.co.uk