Bright Shadow

28/08/2026

Thanet friends, please spread the news far and wide that Zest Margate is launching next month!

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about our award-winning Zest group.

27/08/2026

As summer is drawing to a close we want to let you know that your favourite Zest groups are returning.

We are pleased to welcome back Zest artist David Leahy! David will be working with Zest Medway and Whitstable for four weeks, beginning this project looking at the everyday objects we interact with, exploring the relationships we have with our surroundings through performance and audio.

Zest Medway
Tuesdays 10am - 12pm
Sun Pier House, Medway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HF

Zest Whitstable
Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm
Whitstable Umbrella Centre, Oxford Street, Whitstable, CT5 1DD

Looking forward to seeing you again to welcome in the autumn months.

26/08/2026

Zest Medway Pride Fringe Flags!

A special pop up event led by Lucy Stockton-Smith and Bekky Burniston last week.

🏳️‍🌈

18/08/2026

Campfire Conversation: Living and Dying Well Part II

Our first Campfire Conversation in collaboration with Pilgrims Hospices welcomed a community of people living with and affected by dementia, as well as practitioners from the arts, health and social care. It was important to convene this larger group of 30 people to build connections across disciplines and get an overview of the issues at hand.

For our community of people living with dementia, it was also important to explore the concrete facts of what support is needed to live and die well with dementia. With this in mind, we held a second, more intimate Campfire Conversation at Cosy Club in Canterbury to explore these nuts and bolts in more detail.

You can find out more by reading our reflections in the website article below.

https://brightshadow.org.uk/campfire-conversation-living-and-dying-well-part-ii/

16/08/2026

We're looking for a few friendly volunteers to join our wonderful Zest groups from September!

Our Zest sessions are creative, welcoming groups for people living with dementia and their supporters. No two sessions are the same – there might be music, movement, art, storytelling, games or creative activities, with plenty of laughter along the way!

We're currently looking for volunteers to support our Thursday groups:

Margate – Thursdays, 10.00am–12.00pm, at The Union Church (group starting September)

Dover – Thursdays, 2.00pm–4.00pm, at the Riverside Centre

As a volunteer, you'd help to:
Welcome participants as they arrive.
Support people to take part in activities.
Chat and spend time with participants and their supporters.
Help prepare and serve refreshments.
Assist with setting up and packing away.
It's a rewarding role, and our volunteers tell us they get just as much out of the sessions as the people who attend.

If you know someone who is kind, reliable and enjoys meeting people, we'd be so grateful if you could forward this email or put them in touch with me. We'd love to have a chat with anyone who might be interested.

14/08/2026

Join us this coming Tuesday for a special Zest Medway Pride Fringe Pop-Up session!

Tuesday 18th August 10am-12pm
Sun Pier House
For those who are living with dementia or memory problems and their supporters to come together to make art, boost wellbeing and celebrate connection through creativity.

Reserve your FREE space by emailing [email protected]

14/08/2026

The sun was shining on the Canterbury City Show weekend back in July and the Bright Shadow team were ready to welcome visitors to our stall. Led by writer Liz Jennings, a creative conversation starter sparked some debate. We asked "What's your favourite word?" and "any words you don't like?" - which were then very unceremoniously screwed up and thrown in the bin!

The overall 'winner' for least favourite word was unsurprisingly 'moist' with 4 entries, followed by 'can't' and 'dementia'.

Alongside this we had the ever popular pebble painting for young children who showed us their endless creativity, ability to work cooperatively and tolerance to having sticky paint fingers, even on a hot day!

What is your favourite word?

12/08/2026

As part of our Doing Dementia Differently approach, at the start of this year we collaborated with Pilgrims Hospices to explore what living well looks like at the end of life. Shaped within one of Bright Shadow's Campfire Conversations, questions of what makes a good or bad death, how arts can form part of end of life and what could change in existing provisions were discussed.

You can find out more by reading our reflections in the website article below.

Dementia is the UK’s leading cause of death, but not everyone has access to the end-of-life care they need. In this article we reflect on our second Campfire Conversation, which explored the theme…

11/08/2026

Exciting news for Thanet friends!

We are thrilled to announce that we are launching a Zest Margate group this autumn.

Join our weekly, award-winning, creative group designed especially for those with memory problems or living with dementia.

Please share far and wide to anyone you know who would benefit from working with outstanding Bright Shadow artists and joining a friendly and uplifting community.

Proudly supported by:
The National Lottery Community Fund
Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust
McCarthy & Stone Foundation
Kent Dementia Action Alliance

07/08/2026

We are proud to be a part of Canterbury Dementia Action Alliance Ask The Experts!

A free dementia event which brings together local support services and dementia friendly organisations to answer your questions.

Join the conversation on Thursday 17th September, 10am - 3pm at Westgate Hall Canterbury.