What Makes Didcot Brilliant?

Over the past year, residents in Didcot have been invited to participate in an arts project that aims to celebrate what makes Didcot brilliant. This is being made possible through a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The project enabled people of all ages and abilities in the town to co-produce artwork that will be displayed in the grounds of Didcot hospital and also in the underpass at Didcot station.

“I am very excited to be leading this fantastic project which will celebrate all that is good about Didcot” said Dionne Freeman, Artist. She added: “I will be based at Didcot hospital but will be holding regular workshops and taster sessions in the town so other people can come along and join in and express themselves in a way they may not have done so before.

“As part of my work I will be reaching out to the mental health teams based at the Ridgeway Centre which is based next door to Didcot Hospital to identify people who have experienced mental health difficulties who may like to take part. Helping them to connect and engage with meaningful community activities will greatly benefit their wellbeing, help them to live well independently and provide a lasting legacy for the project.”

As well as staff and patients from Didcot hospital, young people from local schools will be invited to attend (out of school hours) and outreach sessions will be held with other local groups such as mother and baby and dementia support groups.

Other partners in the ‘Creative Connections Didcot’ project include South Oxfordshire District Council’s Wellbeing Team, The Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Railway Station, Sustainable Didcot, Dicot’s WI, Didcot Targeted Youth, Age Uk, Didcot Railway Centre and Didcot Library.