Bringing Colour to Care: Free Art Club Inspires Connection in Cumbria
The club was created in partnership with The Arts Society Appleby, a volunteer-led organisation that promotes access to the arts within local communities. With funding from the Society, the group has been able to provide professional art tuition & materials completely free of charge to Eden Country Care’s clients.
Each week, carers have offered transport and one-to-one support so that everyone who wanted to attend could take part. It has been a true community effort, with Erica from The Arts Society and our carers even baking homemade cakes for everyone to enjoy. Sitting together over tea and cake after each session has become a highlight, filled with laughter, conversation, and a wonderful sense of belonging.
The art sessions themselves have been beautifully varied. Guided by a professional tutor, clients have explored painting, collage, cutting and layering materials, and experimenting with texture and colour. The results have been as unique as the people creating them. Some have revealed remarkable natural talent, while others have surprised themselves, uncovering creativity they never knew they had.
Together, the group has produced a large collaborative artwork inspired by the Cumbrian landscape. What began as a simple idea has evolved into a vivid mural showing the landscape at different times of day, from morning through to night, and through the seasons of summer, autumn, and winter. Each person has added something personal: a favourite tree, a sunset, or a field that reminds them of home.
For Eden Country Care’s team, the experience has been just as uplifting. Many carers have said they find the creative process relaxing and therapeutic, a refreshing change of pace from their daily routines. It has been wonderful to see carers and clients working side by side, chatting, laughing, and encouraging each other every step of the way.
As a home care provider supporting people across Cumbria to live independently, Eden Country Care has always championed person-centred care that values wellbeing as much as practical support. This project embodies that philosophy perfectly: care that nurtures the whole person, builds confidence, and brings joy.
The partnership with The Arts Society Appleby has shown the power of community collaboration. Members of the Society have joined sessions to offer encouragement and practical help, reinforcing the belief that both art and care are at their best when shared.
The final artwork will soon be displayed locally as a celebration of everything achieved together. But for those who took part, the real masterpiece is not what’s hanging on the wall; it is the friendship, confidence, and creativity that have flourished each week.
As one participant put it beautifully:
“It’s not just about painting. It’s about belonging.”
