Consultation leads to cooking and dancing programme

In early January 2023, Healthy Westmeath held a consultation event with various stakeholders to determine desired programmes under the goals of increasing physical activity and decreasing negative mental health. This programme addressed both goals by incorporating dancing to increase physical activity and various activities to improve overall mental health and wellbeing. The number of participants has grown each year, and the initiative has now expanded to Longford.

Longford/Westmeath Down Syndrome group, like many others, struggled with the short and long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It had a significant impact on this group in terms of their mental health, with increased anxiety being a major concern, along with the absence of social interaction with others and their peers. Partnering with Healthy Westmeath in 2023, a unique cooking and dancing programme encouraged participants to showcase their Irish Dancing skills in the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Mullingar in August 2023. Everyone agreed this was a major highlight for the group as well as a massive achievement for all involved.

Participants also attended Multyfarnham Cookery School where they made a 3-course meal each day they attended and enjoyed their delicious meals together. This was a great life skill for the participants who felt more confident in trying to cook with their families at home. Observing the immense positive impact this had on the group and how their mental health improved, the addition of a gardening course was incorporated into the programme for 2024. The participants made their own garden boxes from scratch and planted flowers to take home and look after This programme was made possible with the support of Healthy Westmeath.

Programme Delivery focussed on improving participants mental and physical wellbeing

Longford Westmeath Down Syndrome group wanted to deliver a programme to improve the overall mental health of their participants. With the help of funding from Healthy Westmeath in 2023, the programme ran across the summer months. The first element to the programme was around healthy eating. Utilising a local business, Multyfarnham Cookery School, allowed the participants gain a greater knowledge of healthy eating through three-hour cookery classes. They prepared a 3-course menu which the participants made from scratch, and they also enjoyed a social element where they sat down as a group to enjoy the food they had prepared. There was also an emphasis on the independent side of cooking where the participants could then go home and cook a variety of meals for their families.

The programme also had a focus on increasing physical activity levels. The participants engaged in a number of Irish dancing classes from June- August in 2023. This led us to their highlight of the programme which was a showcase of their Irish dancing skills as part of the 2023’s Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. This showcase was held in the Annebrook Tent which got lots of traction and a big crowd formed to cheer on the dancers. The excitement in the build up to this was all worthwhile as the participants received massive praise from the crowd.

In June 2024 Longford Westmeath Down Syndrome group decided to expand on the programme by introducing gardening. The participants got a chance to create their own planter boxes where they could then plant flowers and take them home to look after and display them in their own homes. Once more the key focus on life skills, aligned with the programme goal of gaining knowledge of how to plant their own flowers and look after them was a huge benefit to the group.

There were two participants who had a leadership role in the delivery of the programme as part of their creative approaches to a practical community advocate course. Below is a picture of Anna who is one of the leadership students. Anna showcased her Diorama (Art in a Box) at an art gallery in Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath as part of Culture Night. It depicts the cooking, dancing and gardening programme funded by Healthy Westmeath at Multyfarnham Cookery School and Abbeyblooms Gardens.

Enduring benefits for participants and rollout in Longford planned

Since completing the programme in 2023 and 2024 there has been strong positive feedback from the participants. The programme was great for the participants to meet new friends in a fun and friendly setting. There was also evidence that the programme improved the overall mental health and wellbeing of those who took part. It supported people with disabilities to have high expectations for themselves and of their community by gaining knowledge and skills for life.

In conclusion, it is evident that this programme has been a massive success across Westmeath and as a result has now been adopted a sister organisation in Longford to roll out the same programme for their community next. The following are examples of feedback provided.

“Brilliant cooking and gardening experience that is fun, and really enjoyable. Where there is food and dancing involved, everyone is happy” Participant on the programme LWDS.

“This was a brilliant programme in learning important life skills towards independent living but in a hugely positive, fun, social and wellbeing manner. Lots of friendship connections were made and strengthened, a bundle of laughter, participants supporting one another in learning and leadership skills for their community. Even got those of us lucky enough to have shared the space with the participants. I would have loved to have bottled the positive vibe that was there” Parent on the programme LWDS.

If you would like to learn more about this innovative approach to wellbeing in the community or other local initiatives the Westmeath Healthy Ireland Coordinator can be reached here.