Creative Podcast Project Launching To Help Socially Isolated People In Care Homes During Lockdown

A creative lockdown music and arts project is being launched to help older people and care home residents who are feeling lonely and isolated during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Armchair Adventures interactive podcast is launching on Thursday, November 12 with a large interactive online event with school children and older people.

Armchair Adventures is a creative response to COVID-19 by theatre-based CIC Made by Mortals and their theatre group for over-55s, Hearts & Minds.

Based in Tameside, Manchester, they have created an interactive podcast series, with activity packs and online sessions, which takes the listener on an adventure of the imagination. The first episode is released on November 12, with two more episodes before Christmas and another three episodes in 2021.

Made by Mortals is currently working with older people and care homes to help them enjoy Armchair Adventures and its creative activities. They are also running a number of online training sessions for activities co-ordinators at care homes to ensure they can get the most out of the project.

Andy Smith, director at Made by Mortals, explained, “There are many people who are suffering from isolation and loneliness from the restrictions around COVID-19.

“There are many care homes which still don’t know when they will be able to allow visitors, so the continued isolation of residents looks set to continue.

“We created Armchair Adventures in conjunction with the Hearts and Minds theatre company we support and work with to continue our inter-generational music and theatre work – just with a slightly different twist.

“It has been designed so that the activities are accessible to everyone and we are limited only by our imaginations.”

Made by Mortals works with a diverse range of people who would not usually engage with the arts, and who live on the fringes of major cities and are at risk of exclusion and isolation for many reasons, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organisation is grateful to National Lottery players and the Government for supporting them with funding to carry on their activities with communities in the North West.

Any care homes or carers that would like Armchair Adventures activity packs for their residents can contact jenny@madebymortals.org for more information.