ARTS AND HEALTH

‘It is so invigorating and great to have another way to connect with people. I didn’t expect to get the ‘buzz’ you feel afterwards. And as well as connecting, you get the health benefits of cardio, stretching and the music makes it fun. It’s a continuous circle of feel-good.’

- JOIO Participant

Over half of the Powys population live in villages, hamlets, or dispersed settlements (Powys: 58.7%, Wales: 17.1%) (ONS, 2011) and must travel a long way to access services or meet up with others - just under half of Powys areas are in the worst 20% in Wales in terms of access to services (Welsh Gov, 2019).

17% of people in Powys report feeling lonely which can have an adverse effect on health, including:

• Increased blood pressure, abnormal stress response, heart disease, and poor sleep with its associated health problems.

• A strong association with depression.

• In older people who are lonely or isolated, substantially increased chances of developing dementia and, specifically, Alzheimer’s disease, when compared to individuals with better social connection.

• A significantly greater risk of mortality in older people who have unsatisfactory or limited social relationships, than for those with stronger social networks.

Dancing offers holistic, evidence-based activities for people to manage and adapt to physical, mental, and social health challenges and connect and build relationships.

Our work responds to specific health and wellbeing issues in Powys and we work with partners at Powys Teaching Health Board and the third sector to find innovative ways to make a difference in people's lives.

Whilst meticulous research and development goes into the design of our programmes, we always bring in health/education/access expertise to hone dance’s capacity to create change. The experience of participants across all ages is fun and life enhancing, with our approach meeting minds and bodies just as they are.

At Impelo, dancers engage people as dancers, rather than patients, in joyful, interactive, creative practice.

As well as our weekly programme we have so far co-created programmes which have improved the physical and mental wellbeing of parents/carers with babies born in lockdown, mental health of children and young people through our work in schools, people living with and alongside those with a dementia diagnosis and those with a cancer diagnosis.

If you would like to know more about how dancing with us could benefit you or the patients/clients you work with please get in touch with Suzy or Jemma - suzy@impelo.org.uk/ jemma@impelo.org.uk