Country Park water colour painting session reaches out to further prevent social isolation
Last updated: 24/10/2023
A water colour painting session at Rushcliffe Country Park is the latest success story from Rushcliffe Social Prescribing team’s Friendship Calendar and Reach Rushcliffe to further tackle social isolation.
The Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) initiative funded the session last month as over a dozen people met at the park’s meeting room to learn tips on how to paint in the style whilst meeting likeminded people, try something new and make lasting friendships.
The event was part of the Calendar’s free activities each month that is engaging ever more local people and was delivered by local resident Deb Webster who is a part of the Ruddington Art Society as participants used a dippy pen and Indian ink with a watercolour wash over the top to create beautiful landscapes.
The sessions are free and open for anyone to attend the one-off tasters, with previous activities including a Mindfulness Dip at Colwick Country Park, Paddle-boarding and a wellbeing walk.
Future activities include a garden centre trip, Christmas lunch and walking football taster session.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Leisure and Wellbeing Cllr Jonathan Wheeler attended the water colour painting session to experience the work of the Friendship Calendar in action.
He said: “The Friendship Calendar offers an excellent way of combatting social isolation and loneliness across Rushcliffe.
“It was great to see the water colour painting session taking place first hand and to meet the residents taking part who were really pleased to be trying out a new skill that they had never experienced before.
“The artwork produced was brilliant and our beautiful Rushcliffe Country Park offered the ideal space and views for the afternoon, with those taking part expressing their positive feedback at the surroundings.
“The variety of sessions on offer throughout the year are so positive and varied and give residents a chance to form new friendships and try activities that they may not otherwise get involved in.”
As part of the Reach Rushcliffe project, the Council is continuing to invite town and parish councils, local groups and organisations to put forward proposals for setting up, sustaining or expanding projects that take innovative approaches to tackling loneliness within the Borough.
Find out more and apply for funding.
The Country Park's meeting room is the ideal place to book your community get together, conference or meeting for up to 30 people.