Ludic Artefacts: Using Gesture and Haptics (LAUGH) to support subjective wellbeing of people with dementia

Lead Research Organisation: Cardiff Metropolitan University
Department Name: Cardiff School of Art and Design

Abstract

The LAUGH project builds on the applicant's previous AHRC funded research investigating handcraft, playfulness and wellbeing and OPAN and HEFCW funded research into ageing. The UK Co-I will bring to the project track record of research concerning haptics and dementia and the International Co-I in technology, handcraft and wellbeing. The project will be supported by Wales' National Centre for Product Design and Research, which has extensive experience in design research and product development. This project proposes an investigation into handcraft and playfulness in relation to dementia in order to inform the development of ludic artefacts (age appropriate toys) to support the wellbeing of people with dementia (PwD). The aim is to develop innovative playful devices that amuse, distract, comfort, engage, bring joy, and promote 'in the moment' living. The proposed research is timely as it addresses the call by the World Health Organisation and the G8 Dementia Summit for international collaboration in order to address the global challenge of the ageing population.

Many older people enjoy creative pursuits and leisure activities that involve making and crafting such as knitting, crochet, woodcraft and DIY etc. People with dementia may be able to continue to practice craft skills learnt earlier in life; however memory of the structure and rules of making, reliant on cognitive function, may decline. For example PwD may continue to be able to form the stitches when knitting but can no longer follow a knitting pattern; the rhythms of making, muscle memory and emotional memory systems appear to be retained despite cognitive degeneration. This investigation will examine ways in which hand use, rhythms and gestures found in traditional handcrafting activities can be used to inform the development of playful artefacts.

The intention will be to design new playful devices to amuse and stimulate people with dementia and bring them joy, fun and laughter. The research will investigate how handcrafting promotes positive emotion; identify the manual skills that are retained despite cognitive decline in PwD and examine the ways in which haptics, gesture and sensory stimulation contribute to subjective wellbeing in later life. Those in the caring professions advocate the use of children's toys and have observed the comfort they bring to people with dementia. However there is an acknowledgment by professionals of the stigma attached to PwD playing with children's toys. This is attributed to a perceived loss of dignity, mainly by relatives and friends, rather than the person with dementia themselves. Findings from the applicant's previous research indicate there is currently a need for age appropriate playful devices specifically designed for people with dementia. This project proposes inclusive participatory design research to inform the development of new kinds of playful devices. These will build bridges between craft and hobby activities that are perceived positively by society and toys that are not. Playful artefacts will be developed to support the wellbeing of those for whom life has become limited due to memory loss or cognitive impairment.

The research will investigate ways of integrating smart materials and digital technology into designs to supplement physical and material properties. It proposes to explore new ways of augmenting traditional craft activities to provide additional sensory and communication properties. This will make it possible for PwD to interact with the devices either independently or socially and provide opportunities to personalise the experience (for example by including family photographs or favourite music). By integrating electronics and sensors, designs for new types of age appropriate toys will be developed. A toolkit for designing playful devices for PwD will be proposed, based on the findings from the research, in order to inform the design community and care professionals working in the sector

Planned Impact

The proposed research will enhance the lives of people with dementia, their families and carers and be of benefit to society as a whole. It will investigate playful activities involving hand-use and propose the development of ludic artefacts (age appropriate toys) to promote positive emotion and enhance subjective wellbeing. Impact will be realised within the funding period for those stakeholders participating in the research and over the longer term through dissemination via professional associations, networks, professional development and training. The beneficiaries will include:
- People with dementia
- Families, carers
- Care professionals: occupational therapists, art and hand therapists, dementia nurses
- NHS medical services: doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists
- Social Care providers: Local Authorities and not for profit businesses (e.g. - Gwalia Cyf, Community Housing Cymru, REACT, BUPA etc.)
- Charities (e.g. Age UK, Alzheimer's Society, Dementia Positive)

This research will inform policy regarding future care for the ageing population and indicate new priorities for research and innovation. It will propose new non-pharmacological interventions, which will have economic impact by reducing government healthcare spending over the longer term. The international collaboration with FASS at the University of Technology Sydney will provide opportunity for rapid global impact through shared designs, prototypes and findings. The research will help inform and increase the effectiveness of social care policy and foster global economic performance through development of new kinds of products and services over the medium term. Beneficiaries include:
- International governments
- World Health Organisation
- Commonwealth governments
- UK government departments: policymaking related to healthcare and older people
- Regional government: informing initiatives and policy making e.g. Welsh Assembly Government: Ageing Well in Wales, and the Commissioner for Older People in Wales
- Local government: informing social care provision and services for older people e.g. day centres, residential care, community centres

The research also has potential to contribute to the UK economy through the development of new designs patents and services. It will propose a toolkit for designing devices for PwD that include the use of smart materials, embedded electronics and new methods of fabrication. The research will be of interest to individuals, organisations and businesses involved in design, engineering, fabrication and materials technology including:
- Designers
- Technologists
- Materials scientists
- The Design Council
- British Crafts Council
- Industry: electronics industry; games and toy manufacturers
- Digital fabricators and mass customisation businesses
- Software manufacturers
- Engineers concerned with hand-use and bimanual coordination
- Assistive technologies and health care product designers and manufacturers: including brain injury, stroke and rehabilitation devices

Insights from the research concerning visual and tactile perception, hand-use, and manipulative skills of PwD will have the potential to inform:
- Development of new products, resources and service design for older people
- Architects: design for housing, public buildings and social care environments

CARIAD is committed to placing people at the heart of research and the proposed participatory project will make a difference to the SWB of PwD through their inclusion from the outset. CARIAD will support dissemination events, publication of the toolkit and website providing potential impact to occur rapidly, globally, individually and socially. Research staff will gain new transferable skills in working with new technologies and materials, design processes and requirements for designing for PwD applicable to a range of design contexts and service provision for vulnerable people with complex social needs.
 
Title 'Open Doors' 
Description This film was commissioned and funded by Age Cymru for the Gwanwyn Festival of Ageing 2018. It documents a creative collaboration between the LAUGH research team and members of the Squirrel's nest Men's Shed, Tondu to make LUMA and digitally fabricated and hand-crafted playful object made for a person living with dementia. https://twitter.com/SquirrelsNestMS/status/1000310753579163648 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The film has been shown in international academic presentations and is hosted on the LAUGH project website. The project had a great impact on the men involved in the project as evidenced in the film. It helped them to build self confidence, learn new skills and raise their self esteem. They learned about digital fabrication processes in Cardiff FabLab and how to design simple playful objects for people living with dementia from the LAUGH researchers. The film has also been used to promote the work of Men's Sheds in reducing social isolation and loneliness in Wales. 
URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/open-doors/
 
Title Exhibition at the Royal Society of Arts London March 2018 
Description This LAUGH exhibition comprised replicas of 7 artefacts created during the LAUGH research. Each object was displayed with information about the research process and findings from the project along with the 'Compassionate Design' toolkit. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact This small exhibition was attended by an invited audience of 30 people representing key national organisations, charities, industry, funding bodies and advocates for dementia. Important contacts were made with potential manufacturers and transfer of research knowledge to industry, charity representatives, dementia organisations and academics. 
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/03/
 
Title FabCre8 exhibition 
Description The Fabcr8 exhibition was a public exhibition of research artefacts. LUMA a playful object created as part of the LAUGH project was exhibited along with 'Open Doors' a short film documenting a collaboration with men from Squirrels Nest Men's Shed, Tondu which led to development of LUMA. The exhibition was held in September 2019 in the gallery at Cardiff School of Art and Design, Llandaff, Cardiff. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact The exhibition was public and the audience included students and staff from Cardiff Metropolitan University. The exhibition raised awareness of LAUGH design for dementia research and Compassionate Design methodology. 
 
Title LAUGH Exhibition Cardiff School of Art and Design 
Description This LAUGH exhibition comprised replicas of 7 artefacts created during the LAUGH research and a video 'Open Doors' made to document a creative collaboration, which resulted in one of the objects . Each object was displayed with detailed information about the research process and findings from the project. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact Expressions of interest from representatives from health and social care organisations requesting further information and participation in future research. Interest from undergraduate and post graduate students and academics. Gallery talks enabled the research to be embedded into undergraduate teaching and learning. 
URL https://twitter.com/DaisycoledcCole/status/1065361667213664256
 
Title LAUGH Exhibition Senedd Welsh Government Building March 2018 
Description An exhibition of LAUGH playful objects and video screening held in collaboration with My Home Life Cymru and opened by Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales. The audience included representatives from the LAUGH project partner Pobl Group including senior management and carers. A wide audience of people interested in dementia care attended including health and care professionals, academics, charity representatives, DEEP and people living with dementia and their carers. About 60 people attended the event. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The exhibition raised awareness of the LAUGH research in Wales, notably via endorsement from the Older People's Commissioner for Wales who opened the exhibition. The audience included health and care professionals and members of the public who were able to interact with the LAUGH playful objects and hear about the potential benefits of using them with people living with dementia to support wellbeing. Expressions of interest in the products and requests for further information about the research were made at the event. 
URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/laugh/senedd-event-16th-march-2018/
 
Title LAUGH Exhibition Sydney April 2018 
Description This exhibition was held at UPSpace Gallery in April 2018 and featured as part of Seniors Festival New South Wales. The exhibition included seven playful object prototypes designed for people living with advanced dementia during the LAUGH research project plus wall mounted displays explaining the research and key findings from the project. The exhibition venue was a community arts area open to the general public. A steady stream of people attended the exhibition including carers, health professionals academics, students, press, and members of the public of all ages. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact Dr Gail Kenning, Co-I international on the LAUGH project was invited to write a feature article about the project which was published in the Australian Journal of Dementia Care. 
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/04/12/laugh-exhibition-at-upspace-australia/
 
Title LAUGH Playful objects for people living with advanced dementia 
Description A series of seven playful object prototypes for people living with advanced dementia. Each object is highly personalised and designed to give pleasure, soothe, comfort and support the well-being of people in the advanced stages of the disease. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The seven objects have been used with people living in residential dementia care and have been observed to have had significant impact on their wellbeing. In addition, carers reported that the objects also help them to do their jobs better by helping to stimulate conversation, fun and activity. They reported greater job satisfaction as a result. More information can be found in the following article: http://researchfeatures.com/2018/01/31/laugh-improves-wellbeing-happiness-advanced-dementia/ and in publications on the LAUGH website:www.laughproject.info 
URL http://www.laughproject.info
 
Title Sensor e-Textiles book 
Description This is a photo book documenting the Sensor e-Textile research project, containing 52 pages of full colour photographs of the textiles created during the project and the story of how they were developed. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact Used to share research knowledge with research partners, advisors, participants and the wider public. 
 
Title Sensory textiles 
Description A range of sensory textile artefacts: five aprons and two blankets made for people with late stage dementia. These playful objects were prototyped during a participatory workshop (LAUGH project launch and funshop June 6th 2015) and developed over the following four months. Each artefact is a bespoke design for a specific person living with dementia. Several of the artefacts are embedded with electronics to extend their sensory functionality e.g. to provide sound and vibration. The artefacts were handed over to the people for whom they were made in November 2015. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2015 
Impact The artefacts have been used in the care of people with late stage dementia to support their subjective wellbeing. Residents' families have expressed ways in which the artefacts have brought the residents pleasure, reduced agitation and facilitated non verbal communication. This has been documented in face to face interviews with family members and carers, and email correspondence with family members. 
 
Description The LAUGH project has developed a new methodology for designing playful objects for people living with advanced dementia called 'Compassionate Design'. This has resulted from and has been tested by the LAUGH research project, in collaboration with over 170 individuals and 70 organisations, who have contributed their expertise and experience to the study. This methodology has been used to develop prototype designs for 7 hand-held playful objects that have been evaluated with people living with advanced dementia and have been found to help support their subjective wellbeing and assist in their care.
Compassionate Design identifies three key priorities in designing for people living with advanced dementia. These include ensuring that designs are highly personalised, stimulate the senses and help to connect people to others and the world around them. The research also adds to the body of knowledge concerning 1). the role objects play in promoting playfulness in order to stimulate positive emotion for people living with advanced dementia and 2). how activities using the hands can stimulate implicit sensory memories with positive affect.
The book 'Compassionate Design: How to design for advanced dementia' published by Cardiff Metropolitan University ISBN 978-0-9929482-8-3, is available to download for free as a PDF file from the www.LAUGHproject.info website and from the Cardiff Metropolitan University repository https://repository.cardiffmet.ac.uk/handle/10369/10165 . This toolkit describes the complex issues around designing for advanced dementia and advocates the Compassionate Design approach developed and tested through the LAUGH research. The publication provides examples of design solutions that have been created for people living with dementia using the three key themes of Compassionate Design: 1). Personalised 2). Sensory and 3). Connecting. The toolkit encourages designers to create a better world in which individuals living with severe cognitive impairment feel valued, retain their dignity and can experience loving connections with others. It encapsulates the core findings from the LAUGH research and is written in an accessible style, for a non-academic audience and is illustrated with drawings and photographs from the LAUGH research.
Seven highly personalised playful objects (ludic artefacts) were developed and evaluated by people living with advanced dementia and their carers during the LAUGH project. Each bespoke object was created following intensive participatory and co-design workshops with dementia experts. These workshops helped to identify key themes that informed the final design concepts and provided initial evaluation to ensure they were appropriate and safe to give to people living with advanced dementia. LAUGH playful objects have been exhibited in 5 public exhibitions (one in Australia). One of the objects, HUG was a finalist in the UK Dementia Care Awards for Outstanding Dementia Care Product 2018.
Research findings have been disseminated via presentations at 38 events, 16 at international academic conferences where peer reviewed papers were presented. Over 20 public participatory social engagement workshop activities have been held, many of these are documented on the project website www.laughproject.info and the @LAUGHCardiffMet twitter feed. There are over 20 publications related to the research including two book chapters and 4 peer reviewed academic journal publications.
Exploitation Route Compassionate Design methodology is being used by designers to inform design projects for people living with advanced dementia. It is also being used by carers and those working in the care industry to find ways of improving daily care for people who are cognitively impaired or living with dementia in the advanced stage. The methodology has already been embedded into the design curriculum at Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Technology Sydney. It is also being used by health and care professionals to stimulate a more positive attitude towards playfulness in dementia care.
LAUGH research findings underpin current research into design for people living with post-stroke cognitive impairment via the LAUGH Empowered research project, funded by Welsh Government. This project is evaluating HUG (one of the LAUGH playful objects) with people in a NHS stroke rehabilitation centre and in a residential dementia care unit.
The findings from LAUGH research will help inform those designing for health care, technology and playful objects for people living with dementia and cognitive impairment. Compassionate Design also provides a model that can be used by carers and family members to engage and communicate positively with people living with advanced dementia to enhance their wellbeing.
Sectors Creative Economy

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Education

Electronics

Healthcare

Leisure Activities

including Sports

Recreation and Tourism

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/toolkit-for-designers/
 
Description The major non-academic impact is on the lives of those people living with dementia that received the items designed for the study. Incidents of sensory reawakening, increased engagement, improved wellbeing and general health were evident as a result of their interaction with the playful objects designed for the project. For further detail see: Treadaway, C., Taylor, A. & Fennell, J. (2018) 'Compassionate design for dementia care.' International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation, DOI: 10.1080/21650349.2018.1501280. One object in particular, LAUGH HUG had a significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the person it was designed for. As a consequence, HUG was nominated by Pobl Gwalia Care for the Dementia Care Awards for Outstanding Dementia Product 2018 and reached the finals. Carers involved in the research have reported ways in which using the playful objects in their practice has improved their job satisfaction and assisted in their caring role. An article in the Journal of Dementia Care provides evidence and quotations from carers: 'LAUGH: playful objects in advanced dementia care' Treadaway, C. (2018) The Journal of Dementia Care July/August 2018 Vol 26 No 4 LAUGH EMPOWERED research funded by Welsh Government ERDF evaluated HUG in a larger study in care home and hospital contexts. The findings from the care home study are reported in Treadaway, C., Pool, J., and Johnson, A. (2020) 'Sometimes a hug is all you need,' Journal of Dementia Care, Nov/Dec 2020 Vol 28:6 pp 32-34. Findings from the LAUGH EMPOWERED study found that HUG can help reduce anxiety and increase wellbeing for people living with dementia and cognitive impairment. HUG is being prescribed by health practitioners in the NHS and is being used in hospitals and care homes around the Uk (Treadaway et al, 2023). It is now being exported to customers in countries around the world. HUG is now being manufactured by HUG by LAUGH and is available from www.hug.world
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Healthcare,Retail
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

Economic

 
Description 'Dementia Co-creation Guide' Alzheimer's Society
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
URL https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/practical-guide-designing-products-services-people-affected-demen...
 
Description Care Inspectorate Wales Report
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The report advocates the use of playful objects to improve the quality of life of people living with advanced dementia in residential care. It cites HUG (photograph), a therapeutic object developed form AHRC funded LAUGH project design research.
URL https://careinspectorate.wales/national-review-care-homes-people-living-dementia
 
Description Report published by Arts Council Wales, NHS and Welsh Government. An Arts Council of Wales study, mapping the range of current Arts and Health activity in Wales to inform a proposed Arts and Health Action Plan by Arts Council Wales and the Welsh NHS Confederation for 2018 - 2021.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in systematic reviews
URL http://www.artshealthresources.org.uk/docs/arts-and-health-in-wales-a-mapping-study-of-current-activ...
 
Description Welsh Government Cross-Party Group for Universities
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://twitter.com/hef4caerphilly/status/1546850450800009217?cxt=HHwWgoCzicOSwvcqAAAA
 
Description Age Cymru Gwanwyn Festival small grant to make a video
Amount £500 (GBP)
Funding ID G2018/62 
Organisation Age UK 
Department Age Cymru
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2018 
End 05/2018
 
Description SMART Expertise European Regional Development Funding
Amount £370,500 (GBP)
Funding ID ERDF Priority 2: 2018/COL/012/80839 
Organisation Welsh Assembly 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 10/2020
 
Title Compassionate Design Methodology 
Description Compassionate Design focuses on three vital components that are key when designing for people who are cognitively impaired: design that stimulates the senses, that is highly personalised and that helps to foster connections between people. It places loving-kindness at the heart of the design process, ensuring that design validates and maintains the dignity of the individual and provides them with sensory stimulation that connects them to others and the physical world around them - even when it is perceived differently by them and they may no longer be able to remember who they are. Compassionate Design places loving-kindness for others at the heart of the design process. It aims specifically to prioritise three constituent elements in the design process: • Personalised - design to retain a person's sense of self and maintain dignity • Sensory - design to keep in the present moment and not rely on past or future • Connecting - design to encourage moments of high quality connection with others The approach has been published in: 'Compassionate Design: How to Design for Advanced Dementia - a toolkit for designers' Pub. Cardiff Metropolitan University ISBN 978-0-9929482-8-3 March 2018 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The Compassionate Design methodology has been used to guide the development of 7 playful object prototypes for people living with advanced dementia. These have been trailed with people living with the disease and have been observed to have had a significant impact on their wellbeing. See the following article and video: http://researchfeatures.com/2018/01/31/laugh-improves-wellbeing-happiness-advanced-dementia/ 
URL http://www.compassionatedesign.org
 
Description Age Cymru and My Home Life Cymru 
Organisation Age UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Development of playful objects or people living with late stage dementia.
Collaborator Contribution Expertise and advice about working with people living with dementia and their families. Access to networks of care home managers and carers in Wales.
Impact Multi-disciplinary: health/care, technology and design.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Alzheimer's NSW 
Organisation Alzheimer's Australia NSW
Country Australia 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We have met with Alzheimer's CEO and staff on a number of occasions to update them with regard to this projects and its developments in Australia and overseas
Collaborator Contribution Alzheimer's NSW provide access to their Dementia Advocates Group. This will enable us to make contact with people living with dementia to enable them to participate directly with us. The have provided letters of support
Impact .
Start Year 2014
 
Description Alzheimers Society Wales and Alzheimers Australia 
Organisation Alzheimer's Society
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Development of playful objects for people living with late stage dementia.
Collaborator Contribution Advice and participation in activities; access to Service User Review Panel members (Wales) and Dementia Advocates (Alzheimer's Australia - NSW) to enable people living with dementia to participate in the research.
Impact Multi disciplinary: health/social care, technology and design
Start Year 2015
 
Description Gwalia Cyf 
Organisation Gwalia Cyf
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The LAUGH research will be designing playful objects (ludic artefacts) for people living with late stage dementia in residential care.
Collaborator Contribution Gwalia Cyf will be advising the project (members of the project Advisory Group) and facilitating access to residents living with dementia and their families in their homes and providing meeting room space. They will also be sending staff to participate in workshop activities, case studies and evaluation events.
Impact The collaboration is multidisciplinary: health/social care, technology and design
Start Year 2015
 
Title HUG - UK Design Rights No 6026340 Therapeutic Calming Objects class 21 and Class 24 
Description The UK Design Rights registration protects HUG®, a therapeutic calming object, designed by Cathy Treadaway and Aidan Taylor (inventors) informed by the LAUGH project research. HUG® is designed to be used with people living with advanced dementia and other neurological diseases. 
IP Reference  
Protection Trade Mark
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed No
Impact The UK Design Rights registration has enabled HUG® product to be developed and batch manufactured (40 items) and is currently being evaluated in NHS and with Sunrise Senior Living care home company as part of the LAUGH EMPOWERED PSCI project funded by a Welsh Government SMART Expertise grant.
 
Title HUG by LAUGH Figurative logo 
Description The 'HUG by LAUGH' figurative logo is covered by Trade Mark No: UK00003373932 in Classes: 10,24,28,42 The logo was designed by Cathy Treadaway for the LAUGH research project and HUG® is one of the playful objects developed from the research. 
IP Reference  
Protection Trade Mark
Year Protection Granted 2019
Licensed No
Impact The logo is being used in the commercialisation of the HUG® playful object.
 
Company Name HUG BY Laugh Ltd 
Description HUG by LAUGH is a sensory product designed to be cuddled, featuring long weighted limbs, a beating heart, and a music player that can play your favorite playlist. It is used to comfort people feeling anxious, lonely, or distressed, and is particularly designed for those living with advanced dementia in care homes. 
Year Established 2020 
Impact September 2020 HUG by LAUGH awarded 2 Tech4Good Awards (People's Award and Winner of Winners) January 2021 HUG by LAUGH awarded Alzheimer's Society Accelerator award February 2021 HUG by LAUGH featured on BBC's The One Show programme March 2022 HUG being used to help people living with dementia ITV film and website feature April 2022 HUG being used to help people living with dementia BBC TV film and website feature
Website http://www.uwic.ac.uk
 
Description 'Advancing Dementia Care Cymru Conference' Public Health Wales and the Royal College of Psychiatrists 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 'Advancing Dementia Care Cymru Conference' was organised by Public Health Wales and the Royal College of Psychiatrists - (international and held on Zoom).
Professor Cathy Treadaway's invited presentation was titled 'Improving quality of life with a HUGâ„¢ ', and included the findings from a recent study of HUGâ„¢ in the context of residential care. Those who attended the international conference included medics, psychiatrists, public health, academics, charity sector and some experts by experience, people living with dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://padlet.com/ImprovementCymru/DementiaConference
 
Description 4th Neurological Disorders Summit (NDS- 2018) Los Angeles, USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact NDS 2018 was an international medical conference for neuroscientists and physicians (both basic and clinical scientists). Cathy Treadaway gave a presentation about sensor e-textiles and design for dementia care, including the LAUGH research. The presentation generated further interest and number of publications were distributed to selected delegates for their work in France, Germany, USA and China. One medical doctor from France took a copy of the LAUGH end of project publication 'Compassionate Design: Toolkit for designers' to use in her teaching in China, to train medical students in dementia care.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://jneuroscience.com/jnen/articles/v4n1/jnen-037-jin-jun-luo.pdf
 
Description A Celebration of Love and Laughter in Care Homes: Senedd National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This public event held in collaboration with My Home Life Cymru was held at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on March 16th 2018 and was attended by 60+ delegates including research project partner organisations and participants in the research. It included an opening address by Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales and sponsored by the Assembly Member Lynne Neagle, Chair of the cross party group on dementia.
It included an exhibition of LAUGH playful objects created as part of the research project, video presentations, interviews with LAUGH research participants and presentations from the research team about the LAUGH project.
The LAUGH project publication: 'Compassionate Design: a toolkit for designers' was launched at the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/03/
 
Description A Hand i Pocket Workshop with Student Volunteering Cymru Charity for Llandough Hospital 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Hand i Pocket Workshop was led by Prof Cathy Treadaway in collaboration with Student Volunteering Cymru Charity. 15 participants, mainly undergraduate students and the majority Occupational Health students, attended and learnt how to make sensory textiles for people living with advanced dementia. Bespoke sensory textiles were made for patients on a dementia ward at Llandough Hospital, Cardiff. Workshop participants were supplied with patient interests and personal preferences to ensure that the textiles were personalised. The textiles made during the workshop were later given to patients by Student Volunteers from the organisation. This was an opportunity to share LAUGH research and Compassionate Design with the public. Following the success of this workshop with Student Volunteering Cymru, a second Hand i Pocket event was held in February in a different location. During the second event, the participants made sensory textiles for a different ward in the same hospital.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description AHRC Development Lab: Arts and Cultural Interventions in Dementia FACT 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Jac Fennell presented the LAUGH project at the AHRC Development Lab: Arts and Cultural Interventions in Dementia on 28th September 2017 at FACT Liverpool. During this day-long event, participants mapped the current state of the field (arts and dementia) and explored future opportunities for collaborations across disciplines. The lab was part of a larger project to co-design a Creative Economy Health and Wellbeing Hub. As a result of this event an application for funding was made for a video that was subsequently funded by Age Cymru.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description AHRC Web feature 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A web feature titled 'How a Hug can help people living with dementia' was posted by the AHRC on their website following the nomination of LAUGH HUG for a national Dementia Care Award for Outstanding Dementia Care Product 2018. The article explains how HUG was developed from the LAUGH research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://ahrc.ukri.org/research/readwatchlisten/features/how-a-hug-can-help-people-with-dementia/
 
Description Advances Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 'HUG for people with dementia' pp.6-7 Advances Issue 91/Winter 2019 An illustrated article about LAUGH design for dementia research in Advances Magazine published by Business Wales, Welsh Government.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://businesswales.gov.wales/innovation/sites/innovation/files/documents/Issue%2091.pdf
 
Description Ageing Playfully Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a keynote invited presentation on LAUGH research as part of the Centre for Ageing Research Seminars at Lancaster University on Wednesday 7th June 2017 at Imagination Lab LICA. The audience comprised health professionals, carers, academics and care industry representatives. There was considerable interest from the audience and one participant has subsequently expressed interest in undertaking a PhD with members of the LAUGH research team.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://imagination.lancs.ac.uk/news/Inspiring_caregivers_employing_playful_ways_support_people_demen...
 
Description Ageing Well in Wales Celebration 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This event was hosted by Welsh Assembly Government office of the Older People's Commissioner for Wales to showcase the Ageing well in Wales project, academic and community based projects with older people in Wales. The event comprised a conference with presentations from key politicians and organisations working with older people and an exhibition. The LAUGH project had a stand in the exhibition which was manned by LAUGH team members who were able to share information about the research with participants at the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.erosh.co.uk/event/ageing-well-in-wales-celebrating-communities/
 
Description An invited presentation about HUG and LAUGH research for Alzheimer's Society Legacy Event, City Hall Cardiff, Wednesday 27th October 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Prof Treadaway presented HUG and discussed LAUGH research at this event. Questions were asked by the audience about the research and this resulted in requests for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://twitter.com/HUGbyLAUGH/status/1453322918990057475
 
Description Article in Glamorgan Star: 'Penarth Care Home residents get a HUG' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was an article published on 5th May 2022 in the Glamorgan Star: 'Penarth Care Home residents get a HUG' The article describes the impact of HUG on residents in a care home in Penarth.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://penarth.nub.news/news/local-news/penarth-care-home-residents-get-a-hug-130250
 
Description Article in Medical News Today about HUG 18th June 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An article about the therapeutic benefits of HUG informed by Alzheimer's Society for Article Medical News Today and published online on 18th June 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dementia-research-whats-exciting-the-experts
 
Description Article in Northumberland Gazette 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An article published in February 2023 about the positive impact of HUG on residents living in a residential care home in Cramlington.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/cramlington-care-home-brings-in-hug-dolls-for-re...
 
Description Article on HUG in My Weekly magazine 21st May 2022: 'Dementia: Making a Difference' pp24-5 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An article about products to help people living with dementia which featured HUG.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://pocketmags.com/my-weekly-magazine/21052022
 
Description BBC The One Show film: 'A Hug in a Million' about HUG an object developed from LAUGH research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A short film about HUG (an output from LAUGH research) made by the BBC for 'The One Show' a prime time TV broadcast on Monday 15th February 2021. The short film included an interview with Professor Cathy Treadaway and a person living with dementia using a HUGâ„¢ explaining how it was improving her wellbeing. The film resulted in thousands of website views (4,000 hits within 60 minutes of the film being broadcast) resulting in purchases of the product.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0974ckg
 
Description BBC Wales News Report and film about HUG® and LAUGH research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A news report by Colette Hulme including film of a person living with dementia using a HUG® and interview with their relative and Professor Cathy Treadaway. The film and news report was shown during the regional news broadcast on BBC Wales throughout the day (4 times). As a result of the broadcast the university received over 250 email enquiries about the research. The BBC Facebook page related to the news story received 178,000 likes and 195,000 shares with 70 comments over three days following the broadcast.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://twitter.com/ColetteNews/status/1189848870181847041
 
Description BBC Wales radio interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An interview on BBC Wales Breakfast radio Claire Summers Show with Jackie Pool from Sunrise Senior Living about HUG by LAUGH® and using playful objects in dementia care. October 31st 2019. This resulted in a request from ITV Wales to appear on live TV news to talk about HUG®, which was broadcast at 6pm the same day. This resulted in a huge number of emails and phone calls expressing interest in the research and commercial availability of HUG®.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BBC film and website feature on HUG 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A feature/film on radio, television and website by BBC Radio Derby broadcast on 1st April 2022
https://twitter.com/bbcderby/status/1509923553994440704?s=2
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-derbyshire-61107840
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpP1xEMtUac&ab_channel=EmmaSnow
 
Description Best Practice in Care Homes Birmingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A presentation about the LAUGH project by Dr Jac Fennell at Best Practice in Care Homes, Birmingham in October 2017. This is a new annual conference for the care home sector, organized by the publication Caring Times and Hawker Publications. The aim of the conference was to highlight the best practice around innovation and technology that is currently happening in care homes. Dr Fennell was approached by an international care home company after the presentation to explore ways of collaborating in future research. This has led to further meetings and new funding applications with the company as a research partner. There was also interest from editor of Caring Times to write an article on the LAUGH project in a future publication. A photo from Dr Fennell's presentation featured in the Caring Times November 2017 issue.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Blog for Social Care Institute for Excellence 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact LAUGH PI Prof Cathy Treadaway was invited to write a featured article for the SCIE website. The article: 'Using Playful Objects for People with Advanced Dementia' describes the LAUGH project and explains the Compassionate Design methodology used in the research. The article generated further interest about the project and was retweeted on Twitter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.scie.org.uk/news/opinions/laugh-research-project
 
Description British Society of Gerontology Conference 2017: Swansea, 5-7th July 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A presentation on the LAUGH project: 'Laughter and playfulness: designing objects to engage people with advanced dementia' was given as part of an invited symposium titled: 'Co-designing creative technologies with those in later life.' This presentation resulted in discussion about ways of engaging participants in dementia research involving technology and design and resulted in increased interest in the LAUGH project evidenced in emails and Twitter responses. The conference had 300 national and international delegates considered to be at the forefront of research, practice and policy
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.britishgerontology.org/events-jobs-news/bsg-events/past-conferences.html
 
Description Cardiff Dementia Friendly website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Webpage about HUGâ„¢ an output from LAUGH design research on the Dementia Friendly Cardiff website for Cardiff Council:
https://dementiafriendlycardiff.co.uk/support-for-you/life-feels-better-with-a-hug/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://dementiafriendlycardiff.co.uk/
 
Description Care Home Celebration Event (Llanelli) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This event was hosted by LAUGH project partner Gwalia Cyf at Gwalia Mynydd Mawr residential care home to celebrate the hand over of some sensor textiles that had been prototyped during the LAUGH project launch participatory Hack Funshop in June and subsequently developed into personalised artefacts for some of the residents in the home. The event brought together residents with dementia, their families, care staff and Gwalia management. The event provided an opportunity for family members and staff to learn about the LAUGH project and meet the research team and this resulted in further interest from families and care staff in involvement in the research.

The event impacted beneficially on residents in the dementia unit who each received a sensory textile gift and on staff and family members who witnessed their delight. Further visits to the care home were planned as a result of this event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Case Study on HUG and Covid 19 for Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Case Study on HUG (output designed for people living with dementia from LAUGH research) and Covid 19 for Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance (NHS, Arts Council, All Party Parliamentary Group on Health and wellbeing). To inform UK government and practitioners about creative projects ongoing through the pandemic to support wellbeing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/how-creativity-and-culture-are-supporting-people-institutio...
 
Description Clinical Innovation Wales (Cardiff) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This research colloquium, held at Cardiff School of Art and Design in collaboration with the Bill Mapleson Medical Innovation Centre brought together academics, industry and clinical practitioners, including British Ministry of Defence, Medi Wales and NHS professionals to discuss ideas and challenges facing clinical innovation. A number of participants were invited to show their research including the LAUGH design for dementia research project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation to professionals, industry people, practitioners and policy makers providing background to the research project and showing there is a need for broader engagement
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.artsandhealth.org.au/conferences/the-art-of-good-health-and-wellbeing-sydney-2015.html
 
Description Daily Telegraph newspaper article 28th December 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An interview with the Science Editor at the Daily Telegraph Newspaper resulting in an article published on 28th December: 'Hug' Doll can improve health of dementia sufferers'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://mobile.twitter.com/HUGbyLAUGH/status/1475894064268652565?cxt=HHwWqsC5rZ71tvsoAAAA
 
Description Dementia Care Awards 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact HUG, one of the LAUGH playful objects was nominated and selected as a finalist in the Dementia Care Awards 2018 for Outstanding Product of the Year. As part of the selection process a research team member and professional carer from Pobl Gwalia Cyf attended an interview day in London in October and then an award ceremony held in November as part of the dementia Congress in Brighton on November 8th. An invited presentation about the LAUGH project was given at the Dementia Congress to over 50 professional carers, care industry, health professionals and academics and 37 people attending the talk provided their email addresses requesting further information about the research and HUG. Expressions of interest from carers and NHS health professionals were received following the Dementia Care Awards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/news/Pages/Cardiff-Met-LAUGH-Product-is-Finalist-in-the-National-Dement...
 
Description Dementia Congress 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 09th November 2017 Dr David Prytherch gave a presentation at the 12th annual UK Dementia Congress 2017 'The LAUGH project: compassionate design for late stage dementia'. Over 700 delegates attended over the 3 days, including professional experts, people living with dementia and carers, health and social care workers as well as specialists in dementia from other sectors including care homes, academia, hospitals, hospices and creative arts. This event is recognised as the main conference for dementia in the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Dementia Lab 2017, Dortmund, Germany 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dementia Lab 2017 brought together design researchers and practitioners from around the world who are working in the field of design for dementia.
Prof Cathy Treadaway co-presented a paper with Dr Anke Jakob about designing for people living with advanced dementia:
Jakob, A., Manchester, H., and Treadaway, C. (2017) 'Sensory Design for Dementia Care: three stories.' This will be published in proceedings in 2018
As a result of this event we were approached by a company who were interested in the potential manufacture of LAUGH playful objects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.dementialab.com/The-Role-of-Design-2017/?section=publications
 
Description Design Research Society international academic conference Brighton June 27-30th 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Cathy Treadaway gave a presentation about the LAUGH research: 'In the moment - designing for late stage dementia' as part of a special interest group on design and medical applications. The session was chaired by Peitr Desmet, one of the leading international figures in Positive Design and designing for wellbeing and the session led to a sharing of ideas around new methodologies and approaches. Cathy proposed a new 'Compassionate design' approach for designing for advanced dementia. As a result of interest stimulated by this presentation Cathy, received an invitation to write for a Canadian design journal and an invitation to speak at a symposium in Brisbane Australia in 2017.
The paper has subsequently been published in the conference proceedings and is open access.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://repository.cardiffmet.ac.uk/handle/10369/8131
 
Description Design4Health International Conference, Melbourne, Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Design4Health International Conference, Melbourne, Australia, December 2018. Design4Health is an international conference for health and design practitioners and researchers. It is a biennial conference, this time hosted by the Centre for Design Innovation, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. Dr Gail Kenning gave two paper presentations from the LAUGH research ('Design for Dementia: Making spaces for uncertainty' and 'Craft as Purpose: Co-design for people living with advanced dementia'). The purpose was to disseminate the LAUGH research in Australia and resulted in requests made to several members of the LAUGH team to review for the Design4Health journal. Interest stimulated by Dr Kenning's presentations are reflected in Twitter activity that was generated afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://twitter.com/LAUGHCardiffMet/status/938774232762286080
 
Description Designing for Dementia Symposium, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, 7th March 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Two presentations were given at this conference: Prof Cathy Treadaway (PI) presented the LAUGH research project and Dr Gail Kenning (Australian Co-I for LAUGH) presented the evaluation approach for LAUGH. Numerous networking connections were made via this event including interest from Dementia Training Australia for an on-line knowledge transfer seminar on LAUGH research. As a result of the 2 presentations, material from the LAUGH research is being incorporated into a course called 'Prototyping towards an Age Friendly City', at Qube Queensland University of Technology: http://www.thecube.qut.edu.au/education/2017/age-friendly-city.php In addition, the presentations also resulted in an invitation to contribute to a workshop: 'Soft Evaluations,' held at University of Wolverhampton in October 2017 by the MinD EU funded research consortium.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/2017/02/20/designing-for-dementia-symposium/
 
Description Does Design Care 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An AHRC funded 2 day symposium attended by a selected group of academics who had submitted papers for review on the subject of 'Care'. Our paper focused on dementia care and Compassionate Design. The presentation described LAUGH research and showed examples of design prototypes in context. The other participants included academic research leaders and theorists in the fields of care and design. Together we developed the Lancaster Care Charter which has since been submitted to an international design journal and accepted for publication. The event was an opportunity to share research with colleagues from around the world with an interest in how design has potential to change care practice globally. It dealt with many of the big questions including ethics and participation. Most of those attending were educators and so will feed ideas discussed at the summit into their undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/workshop-does-design-care/
 
Description HEFCW Innovation Nation Launch event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) event was held to launch the Innovation Nation report on 'Civic Mission'. It was opened by David Allen, Cadeirydd CCAUC, HEFCW Chair, and Kirsty Williams AM, Cabinet Secretary for Education. It included a presentation about the LAUGH project to describe how members of the public and charity sectors had contributed to the research. The LAUGH project was selected for inclusion the event to represent Cardiff Metropolitan University's contribution to Civic Mission. Interest in the LAUGH research was generated through the event and the project is cited in the HEFCW document. As a result of this text and photograph about LAUGH research were submitted for publication in a report by the Wellcome Trust. This document comprises a collection of curated case studies from universities across the UK, which demonstrate the variety of important activities supported by Quality Related Funding. This is to be published as a resource for policy-makers and those across the HE sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.hefcw.ac.uk/publications/hefcw_reports_and_statistics/innovation_nation.aspx
 
Description HUG film 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A 2 minute film by eHealth Films about HUG, an output developed from LAUGH research and now a manufactured product available from www.hug.world
The film shows the therapeutic use of HUG as a comforter to reduce anxiety for people living with advanced dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://figshare.cardiffmet.ac.uk/articles/media/An_Introduction_to_HUG_/16930141
 
Description HUG® LAUNCH event with Wrexham Council and Wrexham social services 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Prof Cathy Treadaway gave a presentation to launch the trial of HUG by LAUGH® with people living with dementia in the community with Wrexham Council and Wrexham Social Services. About 30 carers, health professionals, local politicians and care industry managers attended the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/living-well-with-dementia-in-wrexham-meet-the-hug/
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop Tiree 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This Hand i Pocket Funshop was held in collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland, Tiree Tapestry Group and the Tiree Tech Wave. The invitation to hold the event came from staff at the Taigh a' Rudha residential care home and received grant funding from Argyll and Bute Health and Wellbeing Network fund and the Tiree Community Windfall Trust. Participants included members of the Tiree community, district nurse and two community health professionals. A counsellor from Alzheimer Scotland contributed a presentation on Dementia Friends and spoke with participants individually during the event.

Outcomes:
A number of sensory textile pockets that were given to members of the Tiree community and Taigh a' Rudha residential care home.
Knowledge transfer: making textiles for people with late stage dementia in the community.
Dissemination of information about the LAUGH research project.

Impact:
The pockets made in the workshop have bought pleasure to people with late stage dementia.
The Tiree Tapestry group has subsequently been asked by Alzheimer Scotland to run similar workshop in mainland Scotland.
Increased dementia awareness in the community as evidenced by 23 of the workshop participants signing up to become dementia friends.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://tireetechwave.org/events/ttw10/tiree-hand-i-pocket-funshop/
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This public event was held in collaboration with with Age Cymru and Alzheimer's Society as part of Age Positive Week (October 3rd 2015). The free funshop was open to the public, of all ages, to participate in a prestigious public venue WMC in Cardiff Bay. The day long drop-in event provided the public with an opportunity to make a sensory textile pocket for a person with late stage dementia, to hear more about the LAUGH research project, to learn about dementia and actively participate in the Age Positive campaign week.

Outcomes:
A collection of sensory pockets for people with late stage dementia that were subsequently gifted to people in a dementia care unit.
Networks of professionals interested in the research.

Impact:
People receiving the pockets made during the day were given personal pleasure.
Those participating in the event learnt about making sensory textiles for people with dementia.
Raised awareness of dementia and LAUGH dementia research in the community.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/news/Pages/Hand-i-Pocket-Dementia-Awareness-Funshop-at-Wales-Millennium...
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop at St Fagans National Museum of Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Hand i Pocket Funshop was held in the St Fagan's NationalMuseum of Wales for dementia awareness day on May 21st 2016. The event was open to the public and people observed and some participated in the funshop whilst viewing the museum. The event was invited by the museum and partnered with Age Cymru and Alzheimer's Society. Participants were taught how to make a textile sensory pocket for someone with advanced dementia, hear about the LAUGH research project and have the opportunity to find out more about the disease from the partner organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://museum.wales/stfagans/whatson/9047/Dementia-Awareness-Day/
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop at the Vale of Glamorgan Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This Hand i Pocket Funshop was a collaboration with Alzheimer's Society and Ty Hapus dementia charity held as part of the Vale of Glamorgan Show in Fonmon on August 10th 2016. Participants were taught how to make a sensory textile pocket for someone living with dementia and given information about the LAUGH research project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://cariadresearchgroup.cariadinteractive.com/?cat=6
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop at the Wychwood Festival Cheltenham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Hand i Pocket Funshop was held in collaboration with Age Cymru at the Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham 3rd-5th June 2016. Participants were taught how to make a sensory textile pocket for someone with advanced dementia and provided with information about the LAUGH research project. The Age Cymru partners provided advice about the disease and information about the charity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://cariadresearchgroup.cariadinteractive.com/?cat=6
 
Description Hand i Pocket Funshop with Age Cymru volunteers Monmouth 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This Hand i Pocket Funshop was a professional development event with Age Cymru retail volunteers in which participants made a textile sensory pocket for someone with late stage dementia. The event aimed to transfer knowledge about the benefits of making personalised sensory textiles for people with late stage dementia. It was commissioned by Ruth Jones, Director of Age Cymru Retail.

Outcomes:
Invitation to speak at a Women's Institute event about design for dementia research (March 2016).
Collaboration on a public event at the Wales Millennium Centre as part of Age Positive Week (October 2016).

Impact:
Raising awareness of dementia for participants personally and in the community, thereby contributing to a more dementia friendly society.
Providing individuals and groups with creative strategies to help improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Hand i Pocket Refinement Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A small group of expert textile practitioners met with Cathy Treadaway to refine sensory textiles made during previous Hand i Pocket workshops with the public to ensure they were tactile and safe to give to people living with advanced dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Hand i Pocket workshop, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff as part of Tinted Lens: A Festival of the Mind, Memory and Ageing 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This all day workshop activity involved about 30 participants in making sensory textile pockets for people living with dementia; many more observed and chatted with those involved in making. Two police officers attended and discussed issues around dementia and their police work. One officer made a pocket for her Grandfather.
Pockets were also created and given to people living with dementia at the event and were able to select the one they wanted to keep from those on display. One carer asked for one to occupy the lady she cares for, who suffered from extreme agitation during car journeys. The lady in her care was able to select one to take away with her and was delighted. Another participant met a lady living with dementia at the event and presented her with the pocket she had made at the end of the day. A representative of Cardiff City Council with responsibility for day care for older people took two pockets for Fairwater Day Care Centre and said she would encourage the staff there to make more. The event was also successful in transferring knowledge from the LAUGH research about the importance of sensory stimulation, hand use and playfulness in dementia care.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2017/06/
 
Description Hand i Pocket workshop, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff as part of a Dementia Film Screening event for World Alzheimers Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This Hand i Pocket workshop, led by Prof Cathy Treadaway, was one of several afternoon events held at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff as part of a Dementia Film Screening event for World Alzheimer's Day. The ten participants included members of the public; carers of people living with dementia and two ladies living with learning difficulties. Each of them made stitched sensory textiles that were given to people living with advanced dementia. The purpose of sensory textiles was explained during the workshop and links were made to LAUGH research. Several people living with dementia received textiles from people attending the workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description ITV Live TV news interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Cathy Treadaway was interviewed by Jonathan Hill live on ITV Wales evening news about HUG® and LAUGH research. The programme resulted in a huge number of email and telephone enquiries about the LAUGH research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/news/
 
Description ITV film about HUG 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A feature on the impact of HUG on people living with dementia in residential care.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-03-31/hug-dolls-to-help-patients-with-dementia-at-derbyshire-c...
 
Description Imaginarium: Bringing the Outside In, Tech Hub Swansea, 15th May 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This event brought together a multidisciplinary group interested in exploring ways of bringing the experience of being outside to people who are housebound or living in residential care. Examples of research work were presented by participants and ideas explored for future research projects and funding streams. The LAUGH 'Compassionate Design' methodology was identified as a good approach to underpin any future research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description International Conference on Design Creativity 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A paper was presented by Prof Cathy Treadaway at the 2018 International Conference on Design Creativity held at the University of Bath. The conference paper 'Compassionate Creativity' authored by Prof Cathy Treadaway, Aidan Taylor and Dr Jac Fennell was awarded a prize at the conference and has been invited for publication in the International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation. The research stimulated interest and discussion about participatory and co-design methods in design and engineering.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.icdc2018.org.uk
 
Description Interview on Ujima Radio Bristol Babbers Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Cathy Treadaway was interviewed by Gail Bowen-Huggett about the LAUGH project and designing sensory textiles for people living with dementia for a radio programme aimed at older people (Bristol Ageing Better). The interview was recorded and the first programme was broadcast on October 17th 2016. A second programme with further excerpts of the interview was broadcast on October 31st 2016 due to audience interest. The programme was available on-line for a month and was promoted using social media.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://listen-again.ujimaradio.com
 
Description Interview with Deborah Shouse author of the book: Connecting in the Land of Dementia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Cathy Treadaway was interviewed by US author Deborah Shouse for an on line article about the LAUGH project and sensory textiles. Deborah had written about Cathy's research in her most recent book 'Connecting in the land of dementia' https://www.amazon.com/Connecting-Land-Dementia-Creative-Activities/dp/1942094248 and the interview and visit to CARIAD was to inform an online article about Cathy's research:
https://dementiajourney.org/2016/07/19/using-playful-objects-to-deepen-communication-and-connection/
The site is endorsed by Alzheimer's International and widely accessed by carers of people living with dementia, health professionals and the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://dementiajourney.org/2016/07/19/using-playful-objects-to-deepen-communication-and-connection/
 
Description Invited Presentation to Royal Society of Arts Cymru with Purple Shoots charity 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This public presentation by Prof Cathy Treadaway with Karen Davies from Purple Shoots, explained the collaboration with the LAUGH team and a Port Talbot based self reliant group of unemployed women supported by the charity, who were trained in batch manufacturing to make HUG by LAUGH® prototypes for research with NHS. This resulted in an invitation to write an RSA blog which was published on 19th June 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/rsa-blogs/2019/06/compassionate-design-and...
 
Description Invited presentation on 'Compassionate Design' for the screen based industry in Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An invited online presentation by Prof Treadaway on 'Compassionate Design' for the screen based industry in Wales as part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion remit of Clwstwr. The audience included members of the media and screen based industry in Wales.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://clwstwr.org.uk/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion
 
Description KTN Materials and Design for Alzheimer's Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This KTN symposium was held at the Business Design Centre, London; November 19th 2015 in conjunction with Innovate UK and Alzheimer's Society. An invited audience discussed the need for new approaches for designing for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. I was invited to present one of our sensor e-textile blankets during a show and tell session. This opportunity sparked discussion, raised interest in the LAUGH research project including potential industry collaboration and increased awareness of the sensory benefits of smart textiles (research findings).

Outcomes:
Invited to join a consortia of national experts in designing for dementia to develop further research.
Developed a wider network of participants for future LAUGH research workshops including people from industry.
Dissemination of information about the LAUGH research project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/design-exchange/article-view/-/blogs/materials-and-design-for-alz...
 
Description LAUGH Advisory Group meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 12 members of the LAUGH Advisory Group met to discuss the development of the research and give feedback on the early prototypes and emerging concepts.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description LAUGH Celebration and Exhibition at the Royal Society of Arts London March 28th 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Exhibition and evening preview event for the outputs from the LAUGH project, including a presentation by members of the team. John Killick, a leading author on dementia and the arts was planned to open the event but unable to attend at the last moment. He was represented by Theresa MacNally from Vida Healthcare who read his speech. The event created considerable interest in the project evidenced on social media and follow up emails which included responses from industry, Innovate UK, the care sector, Alzheimer's Society, Care UK, Primary Engineers and DEEP (an organisation representing people living with dementia ). UK Journal of Dementia Care expressed interest in an article about the work. This was published in the July/August edition of the Journal. This led to requests for articles about LAUGH that were subsequently distributed via Alzheimer's Society and Care England to their extensive networks via email.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/03/
 
Description LAUGH Design Challenge 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The LAUGH Design Challenge was part of Wales Festival of Innovation June 19th-30th 2016 - a national initiative to promote Welsh design and creativity, nationally and internationally http://www.festivalofinnovation.org/index_en.html
The event focused on generating speculative design concepts informed by key findings from the previous 4 LAUGH workshop events. Participants worked in small groups to generate visual and written data to stimulate the design of playful objects to support the wellbeing of people living with advanced dementia. Emergent design concepts from this workshop have been used to inform the design phase of the LAUGH project. Participants from the design industry expressed greater understanding about designing for people living with dementia as a result of participating in the workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/news/Pages/LAUGH-Design-Challenge-will-showcase-pioneering-dementia-rese...
 
Description LAUGH Design Preview December 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Members of charities and organisations that had been involved in the LAUGH participatory design workshops were invited to preview the LAUGH prototype designs in an event at CARIAD, Cardiff Metropolitan University. Participants were able to see and interact with the playful objects and give their opinions on feedback sheets.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description LAUGH EMPOWERED Celebration event 19th October 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact LAUGH EMPOWERED Celebration event marked the end of the follow-up research from the LAUGH project, funded by Welsh Government. The LAUGH EMPOWERED project evaluated HUG and Compassionate Design methodology (outputs from LAUGH research) in a larger study, in both care home and NHS hospital contexts. The event included a presentation in support of the research by the Minister for Economy, Welsh Government. The event was held online, was recorded and is publicly available to watch and download.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://figshare.cardiffmet.ac.uk/articles/presentation/LAUGH_Empowered_Celebration_Event/16870987
 
Description LAUGH Exhibition Cardiff School of Art and Design November 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A research lecture to accompany an exhibition of LAUGH research outputs including: seven LAUGH interactive playful objects, a film documenting the LAUGH collaboration with Men's Shed Tondu, a series of posters explaining the research, three postgraduate student academic posters and the end of project publication 'Compassionate Design: a toolkit for designers'. This was a public event and widely advertised by the university. The audience included a member of the House of Lords, representatives from Welsh Government, Social Care Wales, NHS staff, health and care professionals from local care homes, occupational therapists, charity representatives, academic staff and students. As a result of the exhibition expressions of interest in the research were received from Public Health Wales and Social Care Wales.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://twitter.com/DaisycoledcCole/status/1065361667213664256
 
Description LAUGH Exhibition, Sydney, Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The LAUGH exhibition was held at UPSpace gallery, Addison Road, Marrickville, Sydney NSW 2204. Australia. This was an exhibition of playful object prototypes designed for people living with advanced dementia during the LAUGH research project and wall-based content that explained the research. The exhibition venue in Sydney was in a community arts area open to the general public. A steady stream of people dropped in to see the exhibition including academics, health professionals, carers, press, and members of the public of all ages. Outcomes from the research included a number of requests for further information and two requests for journal articles. The exhibition was publicised via the LAUGH symposium at the Art Gallery New South Wales and was part of Seniors Festival New South Wales and therefore, reached a wide network of people interested in ageing and dementia
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/04/
 
Description LAUGH Goes Live! Workshop 6 Design prototype preview and feedback June 14th 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact LAUGH goes LIVE! involved invited artists, designers, carers, dementia experts, NHS, charities and music therapists to experience and give feedback on the prototypes developed for the LAUGH project. Although the designs were at prototype stage, the workshop gave participants the opportunity to critique ideas and give feedback. The day also involved participants in creative sessions involving crafting and play in order to generate discussions around playfulness in dementia care. As a result of this, two of the care homes involved in the LAUGH research used the craft skills they learned in the workshop to make mobiles and activities for the residents in their care homes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/workshops/laugh-workshop-6/
 
Description LAUGH Workshop 1 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was the first of three participatory workshops that brought together health professionals, carers, charity representatives, designers, academics and the research team. The workshop focused on the importance of hand use, playfulness and memory in relation to dementia.
Discussions and activities were video recorded and analysed to inform research.

Outcomes:
A research paper for the Design Research Society international conference 2016 was written by members of the team, informed by the event.
Development of a network of key stakeholders.
Dissemination of research knowledge to practitioners and academics in the field.
The event resulted in two attendees agreeing to be interviewed for a research case study.

After the session some of the participants reported trying our some of the activities discussed within their care homes and day care centres with people with dementia.
Members of the team were invited to visit and talk to care professionals and Alzheimers Society staff; a workshop training event was run by members of the team for Age Cymru volunteer staff.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://laughproject.info/home-2/workshops/workshop-1-hand-use-play/
 
Description LAUGH Workshop 2 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The main purpose of this participatory workshop was to stimulate thinking about 'Memory' and 'Positive Emotion' to inform the wider LAUGH design for dementia research. The workshop participants comprised a range of health professionals, carers, charity representatives with practical experience of caring for people with dementia as well as designers and academics interested in contributing their expertise to the LAUGH project. The workshop was documented through photography and audio recording and the participants engagement and conversations were later analysed to inform the next stage of the research. Findings from this workshop were used to inform a conference paper which has been submitted to the International Design and Emotion Conference 2016 and is currently in peer review.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://laughproject.info/home-2/workshops/workshop-2-emotional-memory-playfulness/
 
Description LAUGH project Design Tech Worshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 18 people attended a creative participatory workshop held at the national Centre for Product Design Research, Cardiff to develop and refine design concepts. The participants included professional designers, artists and creative practitioners as well as representatives from charities, the care industry, health professionals and academics. The workshop generated a wealth of ideas to be developed further by the research team and provided critique from dementia and design experts of the early prototypes produced by the LAUGH team. It was also an opportunity to raise awareness of the research and wider issues related to dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.laughproject.info/workshops
 
Description LAUGH project Launch Event and Sensor e-Textiles Hack Funshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This one day event launched the LAUGH research project with a full day participatory 'Hack Funshop'. The workshop participants included health professionals, charity volunteers and professionals from third sector organisations including Ageing Well in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government), textile artists, designers and researchers. The purpose of the event was to launch the LAUGH project and show its relationship to previous research into sensory textiles for people with late stage dementia. During the day several sensory textile garments were constructed for people with late stage dementia.

Outcomes:
A range of sensory textile garments for people with late stage dementia; these were subsequently refined and developed prior to being handed over to the people they were designed for (November 2015). These garments have had a positive impact on the wellbeing of the recipients and their families as evidenced in face to face recorded evaluation data and personal emails.

Impact:
This work has been published in a peer reviewed paper in the journal: Working with Older People (in press, publication due June 2016) and presented at conferences including Design4Health (July 2015) and Dementia Congress (November 2015) where the presentation was delivered to an audience of 50+care professionals, carers and academics.
Dementia UK has subsequently expressed interest in developing the work further with their Admiral Nurses.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://vimeo.com/152265763
 
Description LAUGH symposium at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'LAUGH: a celebration of design for people living with dementia' was a symposium held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Australia on April 11th 2018. This was hosted by the AGNSW and facilitated by Dr Gail Kenning as part of Sydney Seniors Festival. The LAUGH Open Doors film was shown at this event along with presentations about the research from Prof Cathy Treadaway, DrJac Fennel and Dr Gail Kenning. Considerable interest was expressed from care industry participants and academic researchers that have led to further communication about the research and distribution of academic papers. The concurrent LAUGH exhibition in Sydney enabled symposium participants to visit and experience the playful objects developed as outputs from the research. This in turn led to further interest in the research and led to two opportunities to write for professional journals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/calendar/laugh-symposium/
 
Description LAUGH workshop 3 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The main purpose of this participatory workshop was to stimulate thinking about craft activities, hand-use and procedural memory in relation to dementia The workshop participants comprised a range of health professionals, carers, charity representatives with practical experience of caring for people with dementia as well as designers and academics interested in contributing their expertise to the LAUGH project. The workshop was documented through photography and audio recording and the participant's engagement and conversations were later analysed to inform the next stage of the research. Findings from this workshop were used to inform a conference paper which was presented at Well-Being 16 'Co-Creating Pathways to Well-Being', The Third International Conference Exploring the Multi-Dimensions of Well-Being, Birmingham City University, 5th- 6th September 2016 and was subsequently published in the proceedings and is open access. Health professionals attending the workshop reported that the event had stimulated new thinking around patient engagement in craft activities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.laughproject.info/home-2/workshops/laugh-workshop-3/
 
Description LAUGH workshop 4 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This fourth participatory LAUGH workshop provided a forum for discussion of themes emerging from the previous three participatory workshop events by an expert group (health professionals, carers and dementia charity representatives). The participants were able to contribute to the discussion via round table discussion and small group activities. The event was audio recorded and photographed to document the discussions and generation of ideas. Findings from the analysis of this data informed presentations given at two international academic conferences: Well Being 16 in Birmingham UK and Design and Emotion in Amsterdam, Netherlands.The participants shared their expertise and also gained insights into design processes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.laughproject.info/home-2/workshops/laugh-workshop-4/
 
Description LAUNCH event for HUG® with NHS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact This media event was to launch the evaluation of HUG® with patients at the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff. The event included interviews to camera by the lead clinician and Prof Cathy Treadaway and included a patient using HUG® playful object.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Lecture at Swansea University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Cathy Treadaway was invited to present the LAUGH project to a group of psychologists and neuroscientists at Swansea University on November 1st 2016.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description London Design Fair 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact LAUGH playful objects were exhibited as part of the AHRC 'Design Research for Change' design showcase at the London Design Fair held at the Old Truman Brewery in London from 17-23rd September 2018. This was a large international public exhibition aimed at the design industry and general public. The LAUGH playful objects that were exhibited generated interest in the LAUGH research and in the role of playful objects in dementia care. The design industry publication 'Design Week' highlighted the LAUGH objects as one of its Top Picks of things to see at London Design Fair, including a photograph and reference to the LAUGH research in the article. This led to an invitation for an interview about the LAUGH research as a case study for a book on design for dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/17-23-september-2018/top-picks-of-exhibitors-to-see-at-london-de...
 
Description Meeting at National Gallery Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The meeting with with Adriane Boag Faculty Member of the Learning and Access Department of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra was to discuss the LAUGH project, potential future collaboration and knowledge exchange concerning creative projects with people living with dementia in UK and Australia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2017/03/
 
Description Methodology Round Table 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Planning with the WAAG society for workshop and public engagement events in relation to the research project. Discussion of methodology and approach that wil be most effective and how to reach a broader audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description My Home Life Cymru Conference 2018 March 8th Workshop with ENRICH as part of the conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a one day national conference organised by My Home Life Cymru, which is a charity that supports residential care homes for older people in Wales. The conference was attended by 500+ delegates who comprised healthcare professionals, older people, care sector industry, academics and students. The workshop was run in collaboration with ENRICH who provide advice and guidance for researchers, research staff, and local research networks on how to prepare and carry out studies in a care home.The LAUGH research was presented as part of a conference workshop attended by 25 participants with ENRICH and Nick Andrews from Swansea University. This generated a good deal of interest in the LAUGH project and led to a request for its inclusion on the ENRICH website
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://enrich.nihr.ac.uk
 
Description My Home Life Cymru advisory meeting, Age Cymru, Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Invited to contribute to a meeting to discuss the future administration of My Home Life Cymru. This organisation promotes quality of life in care homes in Wales and is part of the national organisation: http://myhomelife.org.uk My Home Life Cymru was part of Age Cymru but this meeting led to it being relocated to Swansea and hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Swansea University. My Home Life Cymru is represented on the LAUGH Advisory Group.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media-centre/news-archive/2017/myhomelifecymrutobehostedbyswanseauniversity...
 
Description Online presentation for 'Dementia Researcher' University College London with Alzheimer's Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Prof Treadaway gave a presentation with Alzheimers Society Innovation team about HUG by LAUGH and the design for dementia outputs from the LAUGH research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://youtu.be/5cgfh34zoD8
 
Description Open Doors: a film made about a collaboration with Squirrel's Nest Men's Shed Tondu for Gwanwyn Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A creative collaboration between the LAUGH research team and members of the Squirrel's Nest Men's Shed Tondu was documented via a film made and funded as part of the Age Cymru Gwanwyn Festival of Ageing 2018. The activity involved reciprocal visits to Cardiff FabLab and Squirrel's Nest to experience digital-craft and hand-craft practice. The result was LUMA, an interactive digitally fabricated and hand-crafted wooden playful object with embedded technology, made for a person living with dementia. This object and the film made about the project has been exhibited in UK and Australia and is hosted on the internet. The Age Cymru and Men's Shed movement have promoted the video in the UK and it has been incorporated in LAUGH project conference presentations and exhibitions. It has raised dementia awareness and promoted the work of Men's Shed Movement to reduce loneliness and social isolation in the community. This project has resulted in interest in further future collaborative projects with Men's Shed movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/home-2/open-doors/
 
Description Presentation London Borough of Barnet Social Services: 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact An invited presentation by Prof Cathy Treadaway about HUG on March 16th for the London Borough of Barnet Social Services: Registered Managers' Forum 'Enabling Staff to have Confident Conversations about Sexuality and Intimacy in Care Homes'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation at the Ageing Playfully Symposium 30th June 2021 University College London as part of the UCL's Grand Challenges Special Initiative 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Ageing Playfully Symposium 30th June 2021 was part of UCL's Grand Challenges Special Initiative. The 'Ageing Playfully' project is led by Dr Carrie Ryan (Anthropology) and Professor Paul Higgs (Psychiatry) and the event aimed to convene researchers, non-profit organisations, and corporate actors to discuss and develop interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological approaches analysing the place of play and games in ageing health. The symposium theme 'Ageing Playfully' aimed to challenge ageist perceptions of older adults, and call attention to how older adults remain playful, inventive, creative, dynamic, and lively as they age. Prof Treadaway was one of five speakers at the event and gave a presentation on 'Playful objects for the last stage of life'. This included findings from LAUGH research. The presentation resulted in social media activity and further interest in the research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/events/2021/jun/symposium-ageing-playfully-play-and-games-ageing-we...
 
Description Professorial Lecture (Cardiff) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I presented this invited public lecture: 'Making a Difference: Designing for Happiness' to an audience of over 200 people and a video recording is now on YouTube. The presentation concerned the global design challenge of caring for our ageing society and featured design research for dementia including the LAUGH project.

Outcomes:
Requests for participation in the LAUGH project.
Requests to run Hand i Pocket sensory textile workshop events.
Interest in collaboration from other academics outside the discipline.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVZgwr0o-14
 
Description Public webinar for Dementia Action Week 2021 hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 'Designing support and social participation to foster wellbeing during the dementia journey' was a free public webinar for Dementia Action Week 2021 hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University, 19th May. C Treadaway gave a presentation about the outcomes from the LAUGH research including HUG. The title of the presentation was: 'Comforting things for difficult times'. The event was attended by members of the public, academia and health and care practitioners. It resulted in a request to contribute a chapter to a book on dementia and mental health. The event was recorded and is available to watch online.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://mmutube.mmu.ac.uk/media/Webinar+-+Designing+support+and+social+participation+to+foster+wellb...
 
Description Radio interview on Health Radio 'The D Word' show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A 30-minute radio interview by Professor Cathy Treadaway about HUG and dementia research with Pete Hill for Health Radio's 'The D word' radio show. 21st December 2020
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.ukhealthradio.com/blog/program/the-d-word/
 
Description Research Features Magazine Article and video 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An article entitled 'LAUGH improves wellbeing, happiness and quality of life of people living with advanced dementia' was published in Research Features Magazine vol.122 in January 2018. The online version also includes a video about the LAUGH project. This article has been widely distributed to disseminate early findings from the LAUGH project. The video is also hosted on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5I2PX5TDcc
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://researchfeatures.com/2018/01/31/laugh-improves-wellbeing-happiness-advanced-dementia/
 
Description SCDC2018: conference presentation abut LAUGH research by Dr David Prytherch 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The 10th Annual Scottish Caring and Dementia Congress organised by Caring Times and the Journal of Dementia Care was held on the 19th April at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh and attended by over 150 people. As a result of conversations at this conference Dr David Prytherch attended the Association for Dementia Studies research centre at Worcester University to talk about the LAUGH research to students and academic staff.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/04/
 
Description Sensor e-Textiles Hack Funshop (Cardiff) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This participatory workshop (Hack Funshop) included computer scientists, electronics specialists and materials scientists from industry and academia. The event was a one day 'hands-on' design workshop in which participants began to develop electronics for sensory textiles for people with late stage dementia.

Outcomes included:
Electronics to extend sensory functionality of textiles; these designs were developed over subsequent months by the research team and incorporated into several garments and blankets for people living with late stage dementia.
Discussion and ideas for the design of ludic artefacts.
Knowledge transfer regarding designing for dementia and electronics.
Building networks of interested professionals for future LAUGH research project events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Sewing in Suits Hand i Pocket Workshop with businessmen 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This Hand i Pocket workshop was attended by 25 participants including businessmen and their partners and was led by members of the LAUGH research team in collaboration with Alzheimer's Society, Age Cymru, Ty Hapus dementia charity and with support from two business partners: Tec Maria and Inspiration Wealth Management. Prof Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Officer for Wales spoke at the event about dementia research. The event involved participants in creating a stitched sensory textile pocket for someone living with dementia. The event raised awareness of dementia, the LAUGH research project and it also produced a large number of textiles which were later given to people living with advanced dementia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/news/Pages/Sewing-in-Suits-Event-Provides-Businessmen-with-an-Insight-i...
 
Description Social Care Institute for Excellence: LAUGH Case Study 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The LAUGH project research was featured as a case study on the 'Prevention Research and Practice' section of the Social Care Institute for Excellence website and provides information about the research and links to the project website. As a result of interest in this, the PI was invited to write a blog for the site.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.scie.org.uk/prevention/research-practice/getdetailedresultbyid?id=a110f00000NXsByAAL
 
Description Soft Evaluation Symposium University of Wolverhampton 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An invited symposium at University of Wolverhampton that focused specifically on evaluation processes and ethical issues in qualitative dementia research. Each participant gave a presentation on evaluation in their research. Prof Cathy Treadaway, Dr David Prytherch and Dr Gail Kenning each gave presentations about the LAUGH research project. The 30 other participants comprised international researchers involved in designing for people living with dementia from countries including Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Australia, and UK. Discussion concerned ethics and evaluation methods and participants expressed interest in the LAUGH Compassionate Design approach and evaluation methods.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Student Volunteering Cymru (SVC) Hand i Pocket workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact This workshop with SVC took place on 21st February 2019 at Cathays Methodist Church, Cardiff. The 15 participants included students from Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University and included students studying occupational therapy, computer science and art and design. In addition, a health professional from Llandough hospital also attended to talk to the students about how the Hand i Pockets they were making in the workshop would be used by people living with dementia in the hospital. The workshop increased dementia awareness and shared knowledge from the LAUGH research with undergraduate students from two universities. The result of the workshop were Hand i Pocket (sensory textiles) made by the students that were later given to patients in the NHS to help relieve boredom, anxiety and increase opportunities for communication.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.laughproject.info/2018/02/
 
Description TAGS 4th Mid-Year Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a two day event held at the EU Commission Brussels, Belgium and was by invitation. It brought together key researchers in Europe with an interest in designing textiles for an ageing society (TAGS).
The workshop aimed to explore what kind of therapy treatments are available in care homes, what textile means are used to deliver these therapies as well as exploring the barriers that both the elderly and the carer's might experience during the delivery of particular therapies. Ideas for innovations and ways to overcome these barriers were discussed. The event included a session to develop ideas into project proposals for further research in this area. Each participant delivered a presentation about their current research projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.textilesforageingsociety.eu/2015/06/tags-4th-mid-year-meeting-funding-innovation-workshop...
 
Description The Daily Telegraph newspaper article published on 07th January 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An article by the science editor of The Daily Telegraph newspaper about the therapeutic benefits of HUG (output from LAUGH research): 'Hugging dolls helps bring dementia patients back from 'locked in' state'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/07/hugging-dolls-helps-bring-dementia-patients-back-locked-...
 
Description UK Dementia Congress (Telford) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact UK Dementia Congress is the UK conference affiliated to the Journal of Dementia Care, which is a professional journal committed to improving the quality of care provided for people with dementia in hospitals, residential and nursing homes, daycare and homecare settings. The conference brought together a diverse range of professionals working in the field of dementia care, academics and the general public. My presentation at this conference included an interactive demonstration of research outputs: personlised textile artefacts designed for people living with dementia.

Outcomes
Presentation of artefacts and research findings to a range of care practitioners, health professionals and the public
Social media presence (Twitter tweets and retweets of photographs of artefacts)
Extended networks for the LAUGH research project in particular with Dementia UK and Creative Dementia Arts Network
Invitation to speak at a related dementia conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.careinfo.org/ukdc-2015/
 
Description Universities Wales Civic Mission Showcase 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact An invited 20 minute presentation at an online international event: 'Universities Wales Civic Mission Showcase', held on 14th January 2021 and web hosted film: Involving people in Designing Playful Objects for Advanced Dementia Care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuBk8fZg1zA&feature=youtu.be
The event was intended to be an international showcase to present one research project from each Welsh university that exemplified 'civic mission' providing real impact in the community.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.uniswales.ac.uk/welsh-universities-to-build-on-world-leading-work-with-communities-throu...
 
Description Visit by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to the LAUGH project, February 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Prof Cathy Treadaway was invited to give a presentation to Baroness Finlay of Llandaff on the LAUGH research project on 16th February 2018. (Baroness Finlay is Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords and chairs a number of influential cross party health groups and including the National Mental Capacity Forum for England and Wales; she is Vice President of Hospice UK and Marie Curie Care). Baroness Finlay expressed great interest in and enthusiasm for the LAUGH project and provided a number of significant contacts with relevant policy makers and organisations including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description WAAG Society Design for our Future Self, workshop Amsterdam 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The 'Design for our future self' workshop was hosted by the Waag Society in Amsterdam. Cathy Treadaway and Gail Kenning presented research from the LAUGH project and helped to run workshop sessions with an international audience comprising designers from industry, researchers and practitioners from the care industry. As a result of the workshop designers said that they understood better the issues that are vital when designing for people living with dementia and would be able to create better design work in the future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.de2016.org/workshops#workshop-1
 
Description Workshop with Self Reliant Group, Port Talbot 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This 3 hour textile workshop was held at Tai Tarian Housing Association in Port Talbot with a group of 20 participants to make dementia sensory blankets. The workshop was led by members of the LAUGH research team in collaboration with two professional carers from a dementia unit in a residential care home. The event was organised by Purple Shoots a Social Enterprise that supports unemployed people (via establishing Self Reliant Groups) and facilitates the delivery of training in entrepreneurial skills. The result of the workshop was three sensory textiles made for residents living in the local care home and dissemination of the LAUGH research. Subsequently this event led to further Self Reliant Group (SRG) meetings being held in the local care home, leading to residents and care staff participating in creative workshops alongside the members of the SRG. The event led to an increase in understanding about dementia, stimulated community spirit by bringing younger people into the care home and enabled residents of the care home to engage in a pleasurable creative and social activity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://twitter.com/PurpleShoots/status/1093488312222920704
 
Description Workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A number of workshops to engage professional design practitioners in co and participatory practices. To establish a working and advisory groups for ongoing workshops leading to development of specialised research methodologies and evaluation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016