Our innovative hen project is ruffling feathers in Europe as it proves a hit with older people living in Amsterdam.

After seeing success in more than 30 UK care settings, our mix of artist-led creative sessions and hen-keeping is having a similar impact in Europe.

Late last year care setting Flevohuis, which has 80 residents and 60 day care users, became the first European HenPower Project.

With a huge enthusiasm for the benefits of creativity as we age, staff and residents, supported by artistic leader Vera Broos and her organisation Zona’s Kiosk, have set themselves the challenge of taking part in 100 activities by April 2017.

It’s been non-stop for the group who’ve been painting hen houses, filming short documentaries, creating animations and taking part in music sessions with local schoolchildren.

In January there was an open call to artists with more than 30 submitting creative workshop ideas to help boost creativity in care.

Vera, who has worked with Flevohuis since 2014, said: “This project has exceeded our wildest expectations. From the creative goings on around the home and people’s heart-warming reactions to the chickens to the possibilities being created for people, we’ve been able to realize our intention to engage new artists in the care sector for the benefit of those living here.”

Led by Equal Arts, HenPower Eitje (meaning small egg) has been funded by Flevohuis and six other funding organisations.