How Does It Work?
Activity Groups
Here are some examples of ‘Activity Groups’ in Mid Devon. Groups like these will be different in every community depending on local circumstances and on the individuals who make up the group. Mentors fit their work to the needs of each individual.
Silverton Lunch Group: 25-30 older people identified by Wyndham House Surgery in 2003, with mentor support for 12 sessions at The Lamb Inn with lunch. Activities included drawing, living history, Tai Chi, singing, movement and laptop computers (‘taster sessions’ by East Devon College). The group became self-sustaining with occasional contact from the mentors and involvement in multi-group exhibitions.
Silverton Art & History Group: About 10 people pursued separate painting and local history activities (sketchbooks, art appreciation, archive records, ‘living history’, local architecture) in a combined self-sustaining group. The group has sustained its activities independently, has produced two books of reminiscence, put material on the BBC ‘People at War’ website and is planning an art exhibition at the local surgery. Mentors provide occasional support.
Crediton Boniface Groups: Several groups have started at this church community hall – exploring print-making (a 95-year-old produced the first Upstream Christmas card), producing their own CD; and forming two ‘Variety’ activity groups. Some people ‘graduated’ to other activities in the community; some needed longer in the groups. An Integrated Group of older people and 6th Formers from QECC Community College is into its second cohort of students. A small self-sustaining home-based group and a Patchwork group have evolved from the original Variety groups, and a Circle Dancing group is becoming independent at the Sandford Inn. A Tai Chi Group is almost independent at the Fire Station and ‘Knitwits’ meets at a Crediton pub.
Tiverton Groups: Novice artists and writers in Tiverton produced a booklet of ‘Poems and Paintings’. A second group provided community focus at John Greenway Close, where residents continued their own Tai Chi group. Several groups worked on ‘Memories of the Second World War’, which culminated in a remarkable Exhibition with more than 30 participants in Tiverton Museum linked to the BBC World War 2 project. A second Museum project is planned on transport. Tiverton Library Club started with mentor support and activities from local history to pottery, spinning and weaving. This group also produced memories on tape for a Tiverton Flood Project. The latest Tiverton Group is based at East Devon College and an Exercise Group is being formed. Most participants have continued with some kind of regular activities, inter-group projects or consultation events.
Witheridge ‘Rest-a-While’ Group: an isolated community which has developed a very active self-sustaining group, with a range of creative as well as physical activities and some enjoyable lunches. The group has its own constitution and has successfully applied to the ‘Community Champions’ fund. (see ‘Independent Witheridge Group’). A self-sustaining Witheridge Poetry Group required only a small amount of mentor encouragement and meets at members’ homes.
Okehampton Art Group, started in partnership with Okehampton Community College and produced their own Calendar, with 12 examples of individual work. several people who contributed pictures had never painted before. There were some exceptional pieces of work. Several people continued a College painting course independently and mentors helped others join existing art groups or continue painting at home. Most referrals in the Okehampton area have been signposted to existing activities.
Colebrooke: this was another spin-off from the Crediton Boniface Group, with people who came in from the Colebrooke to Crediton initially but are now being helped to establish their own independent group and have won an “Awards for All” grant to help them do so.
Spreyton Computer Group resulted from a door-to-door leaflet throughout the village. A handful of people met in the school to learn basic skills; they have continued using their computers and are keeping in touch with each other.
Lapford: With only a small amount of help from mentors, this group meets independently every month to quilt and learn other needlework and handicraft skills which they learn from each other and from books.
Cullompton Group: this group has received ongoing support from mentors because members have greater physical and special needs. The activities make a major contribution to participants’ lives and they have been continuing work at home by, for example, borrowing looms for weaving, etc. Some of the original participants helped to start the nearby Bradninch Group which now meets independently in members’ homes and remains involved in joint-group projects and consultations.
Residential, warden-assisted and sheltered accommodation: Upstream has started a number of activities in a variety of accommodation in Crediton, Tiverton and Uffculme. The John Greenway group in Tiverton has sustained itself; the Crediton activities (e.g. handbells) have been well-received but not yet self-sustainable – more able residents have usually joined other activities, e.g. at the Boniface Centre. A mixed group of residents and others in the community is planned in Morchard Bishop.
