“We learnt, laughed and enjoyed each others’ company.”
Over those four weeks, people came together for a range of activities designed to support creative activity, cognitive stimulation, and brain health. Every session was carefully designed to be inclusive and accessible, involving creative activity, cognitive stimulation, and promoting brain health.
Mornings began with a chance for a cuppa and catch up with the group, followed by different activities including illustrating poems and creating a collaborative drawing that each person contributed to. Each session ended with more tea, talking about their shared experience, and encouraging others.
The experience of Colourful Connections
“It was so interesting to meet new people and to listen to Jennifer talk about the connection with brain health and art. Everybody is so friendly and encouraging – thank you.”
An enjoyable and relaxing time
“I couldn’t agree more that the atmosphere of the group (with Jennifer’s leadership) was so easy, encouraging and beneficial to us all.”
“It was an enjoyable four weeks, and I for one was grateful for the advice.”
People had a relaxing and enjoyable time, with fun and lots of laughter. Sessions were interesting, varied, and fun, and many people thanked Jennifer for the careful and thoughtful design. They felt this was a good project to do with a group.
Building relationships and community
Participants enjoyed being in a group of people doing art together. It created a strong sense of togetherness and inclusion.
“Everyone was so supportive of one another and happy to share skills, stories and knowledge. The time just whizzed by.”
The group connected from the start, supporting each other, sharing skills, stories, and knowledge, and making everyone feel welcome. They were genuinely interested in each other’s artwork.
“The group seemed to gel from the outset, all very friendly, supportive and interested in each other’s works of art.”
Participants enjoyed the company and camaraderie. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxing, and the group was easy to be with and encouraging. Several people said how much they enjoyed having different generations there.
“Us beginners, although pretty nervous at the start of the first session, soon relaxed and the camaraderie, buzz and laughter was so apparent. Thank you both very much.”
People also felt that sessions had built connections with the wider community:
“Thank you so much everyone for making [family] so welcome. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know another warm and witty cohort within our beloved village. I felt that the intergenerational mix was really valuable to us.”
“I think that it can be quite easy to become isolated at various stages in life and sharing creativity and chat with a cup of tea gave me back my confidence to get back out there again.”
(Re)connecting with creative minds and new thinking
Participants said they felt the sessions were indeed good for their brains in many ways. Some reconnected with previous skills and interests and their ‘creative brain’ and regained confidence:
“Thank you for getting me to engage my artistic brain again.”
“Much needed to blow the dust off my creative brain.”
Others found that Colourful Connections had opened their mind and provided a chance to learn new skills and try new things:
“Good fun!! Fascinating to do an abstract painting. Interesting ideas to make you think about creating something that for me is not an activity I would normally do. Enjoyable to share with a group of people. Definitely would like to learn more about art and how it helps focus your mind and switch off anxiety.”
“Thank you for another opening of the mind lesson Jennifer. It was really super and it did change my mindset, trying to see things in and around us in a different way.”
Gratitude for the work Jennifer and Douglas put into making the sessions work so well
Participants were really appreciative of the work put into making Colourful Connections work. They appreciated what Jennifer did to create and run the sessions and Douglas’s work to support the event happening. Jennifer had designed a warm and welcoming environment that was relaxed, and the sessions were well organised and led well.
“Jennifer, you put us all at ease from the get-go and were so encouraging and inspiring.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and it has been wonderful therapy for me. Jennifer, your personality and encouragement was second to none.”
“Each session was very well organised.” “Interesting morning Jennifer, thank you. Jennifer did a super job setting and leading the four sessions. The content was interesting and varied, and I enjoyed the company. It was really fun!”
“Thanks to Douglas for initiating this group which is an asset to the community.”
“Thanks for organising the four weeks Douglas and for making sure we all were refreshed with coffee and tea.”
What we learnt:
Colourful Connections was really well received and participants told us they benefited from the sessions and being in the group — building relationships and connecting with their ‘creative brains’. The careful design and development of the model with the Musselburgh Friendship Group based on robust training enabled Jennifer to develop the course.
The project was possible because of the partnership between Traprain Parish, The Lynton Centre, and DFEL, and how we brought our skills and assets together to make the project work.
We saw how to apply the evidence-based elements of the Meeting Centre approach in a community setting and the benefits it brought. Many arts and creativity projects work on similar lines but are not always explicit about the value of the benefits they bring in terms of brain health and the value of groups in well-connected community settings. This work shows that groups can work really well for diverse groups and everyone benefits from a well designed accessible and inclusive programme.
We found that the 11 Essential Features of Meeting Centres can be applied in community settings. As well as being a regular (although short-term) group, the project shows the importance of having a skilled and experienced facilitator and a carefully constructed physical, cognitive, and social environment. It’s also clear that the dementia-inclusive environment used by Colourful Connections was beneficial for other ages and stages and helped people develop a sense of agency, community, and build relationships and resources.
An important feature for DFEL and our development of the Meeting Centre model was the depth and breadth of community connections that partners brought to our collaboration. Colourful connections connected diverse community members, to a project designed to promote brain health, community and quality of life. The Meeting Centre approach was applied in a carefully designed and expertly delivered brain health project designed to be accessible and work through community networks. We together developed something that benefitted different parts of the community, including people feeling, or worrying about becoming, socially disconnected; people recently moved to the area; and people who felt socially anxious.
Background Information
The four Colourful Connections sessions ran from 28 January to 18 February 2025, each lasting two hours.
The Meeting Centre Approach: As well as setting up the Musselburgh Meeting Centre, DFEL had separate funding for a project to explore the development of the evidence-based Meeting Centre approach in different East Lothian communities. Meeting Centres are based on evidence of what supports people living with dementia and care partners in the community and operate round 11 Essential Features. These include promoting opportunities for cognitive stimulation, peer support, community connections, and physical activity. Centres run in ordinary community settings and are led by a skilled and experienced team creating a warm and welcoming, non-judgemental, safe space.
Community: The project arose from a collaboration in East Linton between Rev. Douglas Hamilton, Minister, Parish of Traprain; The Lynton Day Centre; and Dementia Friendly East Lothian. We worked together to explore how the Meeting Centre approach could work across East Lothian communities. We facilitated a weekly community cafe in The Stables and co-organised community events, including Healthy Brains and Dementia Friendly events and training.
Colourful Connections was developed as part of work to take links from the Traprain Parish Community Cafe deeper into the community, connecting with all ages and stages. We wanted to explore how Meeting Centre thinking can support the development of inclusive dementia resources in and with the community and take the Brain Health project further.
Jennifer Swandle is a community artist who is trained and skilled in the Meeting Centre approach and experienced at delivering arts and creativity sessions for people living with dementia and carers and other groups in the community.
Support and Funding: The project was supported by Traprain Parish, who provided the venue and volunteers and publicised the project widely through local networks. DFEL was funded by East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership to explore the development of the Meeting Centre approach in different communities across East Lothian and funded the initial project and provided support. We are also grateful for funding from the Dunbar & East Linton Area Partnership.
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