We are preparing for Tragic Carpet’s first performance of Nosferatu at The Seagrove Centre next week. The Seagrove Centre is a great resource that provides support to people living with dementia. I am helping Tragic Carpet reach this new audience, an audience that often doesn’t get the chance to participate in high quality arts. The Seagrove Centre are very proactive about the members having high quality experiences, so Tragic Carpet should fit in perfectly, and I hope this will be the start of a strong relationship between the two organisations.

Hello. I’m Lissa McIntyre. I run a small business called Joy Rides which specialises in getting older people out in their local community. Joy Rides takes people on a spin on an electric bike around the green spaces of Edinburgh. Passengers get the feeling of the wind in their hair and the joy of being on a bike, without having to do the hard work. They get the chance to interact with myself, their fellow passengers and the outside world. Often older people, or those living in care homes can be quite invisible and isolated, but this experience puts them right in the middle of things and they get the chance to chat and interact with folks. 

The process so far is going well. We’ve found that care homes and agencies that work with older people and those living with dementia are really up for new projects and adventures so if anyone has an idea for a creative of fun activity you should just get in touch and ask them!

There is so much more I hope we can explore with this collaboration! I would love to see Suitcase Story performances happening in many more care homes or day centres so I will work hard to make that happen.

Lissa McIntyre – Community Engagement Support