I am Director of Artlink West Yorkshire and have been in this role since 2003. The aim of my Fellowship in 2017 was to visit projects using participatory arts to engage with elderly people in New York and Vancouver. It was also to find out what methods they were using to capture their work.

Since my Fellowship, my organisation has delivered work mainly to people with disabilities and to elderly people, many of whom live with dementia. We have developed an observational style of evaluation which has enabled us to produce meaningful reporting of our work with the voice of the people we work with shining through.

During Covid-19 our work was online, working with over 200 people using bespoke instruction films, 400 Creative Toolkit drop-offs and two online conference sessions per month to connect with the many people we work with. We also run an online programme of work for people with an eating disorder living across West Yorkshire.

The work we do has shown time and again to improve the quality of life for the people we work with. During Covid-19 it was described as a lifeline by many.

I am still in touch with people from my Fellowship.