Breath & Hand Jive

"These sessions are just what we need. I can already see an improvement in my husband's movement and mobility."

Breath & Hand Jive participant

"We all come with our own difficulties, leaving them behind at the door. I myself am dealing with some fairly difficult things that don’t show and others are obviously in the same boat. I love the happy peaceful afternoons."

Breath & Hand Jive participant

Our Breath & Hand Jive sessions offer an opportunity to participate in movement and art activities, to support health and wellbeing when facing the changes and challenges of life after a stroke.

Movement and art are brilliant tools for rebuilding confidence and there’s always a cup of tea and time for a chat during the sessions.
‘Breath & Hand Jive’, takes place on Mondays 2-4 pm at The Passmore Edwards Institute in Hayle, Cornwall.

£3.00 per session. Free for partners/carers.

Please contact us for further information.

How it all began – the Breath & Hand Jive sessions.

Jayne and Caroline first began working together on the specialist inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit at Camborne Redruth Hospital in Cornwall, as members of a larger team of artists employed by Arts for Health Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.

The project’s aim was to explore how the arts can support patient wellbeing and rehabilitation alongside traditional Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy post-stroke.

Jayne and Caroline subsequently co-wrote an article describing their work and findings which was published in “People Dancing – Animated magazine” (Autumn 2011). A copy of the article can be found here.

In 2019 Inner Ground Dance Company was awarded Big Lottery and Feast funding to establish community-based dance and art sessions for people facing the changes and challenges of adapting to life after a stroke. As well as the profound physical and neurological impact, people recovering from a stroke often experience depression and heightened anxiety, which can become another barrier to re-engaging with life beyond home.

The participants of our sessions tell us we create a safe and enjoyable environment for all.

We have made such amazing new friends through our group and will be forever grateful for all the fun and laughter through an experience that could have left us BOTH feeling very lonely and isolated.” B&HJ group member.

Responding to the suspension of sessions during 2020/21 due to Covid, The Nice to Know Newsletter was created to maintain group support and cohesion. The newsletter was a resounding success enabling everyone to keep in touch by sharing news, stories, and artwork and sustain their connections, support, and friendships.

What did I enjoy most about it? [the newsletter] Hearing people’s “voices” through their words. Seeing all the art too. I loved it all. I have saved them all and I do reread them from time to time. It is a very special thing.” B&HJ group member

Click on the links below to read and download copies of the Nice to Know Newsletter.

Nice To Know News September 2020

Nice To Know News Valentines Day 2021

Nice To Know News Easter 2021

Breath & Hand Jive Gallery

"I just dropped into my office to pick up some things and found your lovely newsletters waiting for me! Thank you and congratulations on making such a beautiful and interesting newsletter - so nice to have something ‘real’ rather than just in the virtual world."

Jayne Howard

Founder and Managing Director Arts Well