Elderly and isolated form new arts and networking community at North Wales college

COLEG CAMBRIA provides a warm, welcoming environment for people of all ages.

And that was the case when more than 60 elderly and retired individuals attended arts and crafts sessions at the college’s Wrexham and Deeside sites.

Organised by Cambria’s Student Voice team, participants were reached via social media, local coffee mornings, community noticeboards, word of mouth and via an NHS coordinator conducting home visits across north east Wales.

The group joined life drawing and printmaking lessons over a series of weeks, as well as networking and partaking in afternoon tea at Yale’s Ial Restaurant.

Rob Jones, Student Voice Engagement Officer, said: “This was an opportunity for us to bring people together and form a new community.

“It was wonderful to see such a huge number attend and enjoy themselves, especially after the challenges of lockdown when so many felt lonely and isolated.

“It gave them an opportunity to try something new, and the results were amazing – the artwork produced was brilliant.”

Rob added: “This is something we will look to replicate next summer and hopefully at other points during the year as it was so popular.”