Alive! Evaluation Film

As one of our final Arts Evaluation projects we worked with Alive! to create a film of their activity workshops for older people in care.

Carer and lady talking

Alive! is a Bristol-based charity set up in 2009 and dedicated to improving quality of life for older people in care through meaningful activity that meets their individual needs and improves their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Alive! deliver a range of activity workshops, including arts workshops, music and movement and guided reminiscence, training and professional development for care home staff, and they also advocate for cultural and legislative change in the residential care sector. 

Our evaluation work identified three themes that characterise the Alive! approach to activity delivery. Alive! delivers a ‘variety’ of content and format, makes ‘personal connections’ with individual participants and uses ‘skilled presenters’. These three elements combine to create successful workshops, giving those who take part experiences and interactions which have meaning for the individual, and which also create a positive shared experience for the group.

The evaluation was conducted by Willis Newson in collaboration with Professor Norma Daykin of the University of the West of England. The evaluation looked at outcomes in four areas: supporting older people in care; building relationships; supporting staff; and care home culture and practice.

This video was commissioned by Willis Newson to illustrate the evaluation.