Residents and staff at Elizabeth Court are celebrating after being awarded a £10,000 cashpot to create a living time capsule based on their lives and experiences.

With the town’s seafront and landmarks as inspiration, the group in their 80s and 90s will explore textiles, painting and sculpture as part of the year-long project funded by Awards for All.

They’ll be supported in their weekly sessions by Equal Arts and our team of artists.

Reece Welch, manager at the setting in Hastings Road, said: “We’re thrilled to have this amazing opportunity for residents to have a go and get stuck into creating artwork that reflects their experiences and lives.

“We’ve trialled arts activities before and really noticed a difference in the confidence of those taking part, able to learn new skills no matter their health issues.”

Community groups, families and friends will be invited to join the group as they enjoy trips out to Bexhill landmarks and create weavings, textile mobiles and art books ahead of a community exhibition next summer.

Resident Maureen Green, 84, said: “I love coming every week to take part in the creative activities, doing the art and chatting to people. It cheers me up. I get very nosy about what other people are making and like to look at their work.”

The project follows on from the venue joining our HenPower Project.

Now in more than 50 care settings the project combines hen-keeping and creativity to improve wellbeing and reduce loneliness.

Equal Arts’ Lucy Groenewoud, who supports the group, said: “There’s growing understanding that creativity remains while other cognitive functions can decline for people living with dementia.

“Arts can have such an impact on wellbeing, there’s no wrong way to be creative. It’s great to see how residents and staff grow with confidence and enjoy socialising together.”