“Jolly good fun” was a comment made by one of the patients at the Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (OSRU) this week, as they completed the four-day arts residency programme ‘Brain Odysseys’ led by artists from Rosetta Life.

The programme specifically created for OSRU patients, was delivered by a group of professional artists from Rosetta Life who work with those living with life-limiting illnesses to enable them to shape and share their stories through movement, song, image, film and writing.

The OSRU patients, based at Abingdon Community Hospital enjoyed vocal and movement sessions, as did the staff supporting them. One of the team commented on the difference the workshops made “When I saw the patients this morning I never would have thought that they were capable of doing what they achieved today!”

This session was funded by Oxford Health Charity, with two further residencies planned for OSRU patients in the Spring.

Lucinda Jarrett, Artistic Director of Rosetta Life said “It’s been wonderful to witness staff and patients engaging with Latin rhythms and African songs this week on the ward at OSRU. Thank you to everyone for welcoming the dancing and the singing onto the wards”

Angela Conlan, Arts Co-ordinator explained “It's fantastic to have this national evidence-based performance arts model for patients at OSRU this year. The sessions involved movement, music, song and spoken word and been shown to improve stroke rehabilitation. This project, together with the arts programme provided by Oxford Health Arts Partnership across the trust, builds on the expanding body of evidence for the use of arts interventions in health settings, which not only offers alternative treatment models but also cost savings for the NHS.”

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