Carers of people living with dementia across Worcestershire are discovering new ways to connect with their loved ones, thanks to a joint project between Vamos Theatre and Worcestershire’s Carers & Communities.
The programme was created in response to the rising emotional pressure many carers face, with increasing reports of stress and even incidents of violence in the home. Vamos Theatre, a Worcester-based mask theatre company with years of experience in health and care training, has long championed an approach to dementia care built on empathy, listening and trust. Carers & Communities had been seeing growing demand for exactly this kind of support, and the two organisations came together to design a programme that could make a real difference.
Backed by a Worcestershire County Council Public Health Community Wellbeing Grant, the project has delivered a series of dementia-inclusive wellbeing activities and practical training sessions for carers, giving them tools to de-escalate stress, rebuild connection and feel less isolated.
At the heart of the programme is Mischief!, a joyful, interactive performance designed for people living with dementia and their carers, encouraging movement, confidence and social connection. The impact of the session was felt well beyond the room. One carer explained that her mum, who is living with dementia, seemed genuinely energised after watching the performance, staying up far later than usual that evening and still seeming to be on a high the following morning. Others reflected on the emotional value of the session, with one saying it was “being reminded of how important humour is… generally something lost in arduous caring roles,” while another simply shared “remembering to smile more!”, a small but powerful reminder of how joy can transform connection.
The programme also includes Listening With Your Eyes, in-person training focused on empathetic, nonverbal communication that helps people living with dementia feel safe and calm. For one carer, the session offered a rare glimpse into what it can feel like to live with dementia. Taking part in the activities gave him a small sense of the disorientation and feeling of being lost in the world that people living with dementia can experience, helping him understand his own caring role in a new light. Another carer described the session as “reading what others are saying without words. I also left feeling that I was not doing so badly. Mostly I felt I was not alone.”
Touch was another theme explored during the training. One carer had always believed her mum disliked physical contact, but after facilitator Honor explained the different types of touch and how something small and gentle could make a difference, she left thinking about ways she could try this with her mum at home.
Rounding off the programme is The Art of Care, a one-year online training licence giving carers ongoing access to practical tools for everyday dementia care, ensuring the learning continues long after the sessions themselves have finished.
Together, Vamos Theatre and Carers & Communities believe the programme is already having a deep impact on relationships at home, giving carers practical, hands-on ways to reduce stress, strengthen trust, and improve wellbeing for both themselves and the people they care for.
To find out more about the Public Health Community Grant programme please visit the dedicated pages of our website.