CRAFTY care home residents have gone to the drawing board as they take part in a worldwide art festival.

Residents at the Colne View care home in Dame Mary Walk, Halstead have picked up their pencils for the Big Draw Festival 2020.

Their work has celebrated all things nature by creating works of art around this year’s theme - a Climate of Change.

Residents and team members were tasked with fashioning pieces which prompted discussions about the environment and climate change.

The month-long Big Draw Festival was launched back in 2000 as part of the Campaign for Drawing.

It aims to promote drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and has encouraged more than four million people to get arty since its inception.

The festival is made up of thousands of creative events, activities and workshops across the globe.

The care home says this year’s theme offered a great opportunity for older people to reminisce about their favourite nature spots, as well as trips to the great outdoors in their younger years, and how our focus looking after our planet has changed in recent years.

Razvan Stanbeca, home manager at Colne View, said: “It was wonderful to take part in the Big Draw for the second year – everyone had a great time putting their drawing skills to the test.

“Creative activities play a big part of life here at Colne View, and we actively encourage residents to continue lifelong arty hobbies and try new expressive pastimes.

“Drawing has a variety of benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it provides an alternative way to communicate and express emotions, and an opportunity to relive happy memories.

“It was great to see everyone’s final pieces.

“We certainly have some budding artists here and we look forward to displaying our works of art around the home.”

The care home and its parent company Care UK took part last year and renewed its partnership in 2020.

Across the country, more than 70 homes have been getting arty and working with their local communities virtually to create works of art around the theme.

For more information about Colne View, you can contact Kim Richardson on 01787 389474 or email Kim.Richardson2@careuk.com.

To find out more about the Big Draw festival, visit thebigdraw.org.