Started: 2012
Based: London
Website: www.magicme.co.uk
Twitter: @MagicMeArts
Category: Community Action

Cocktails in Care Homes is an award winning project by arts charity Magic Me. The project tackles isolation amongst care home residents by hosting monthly evening cocktail parties at care homes in London.

The inter-generational arts charity Magic Me set up Cocktails in Care Homes in 2012. The idea is to challenge stereotypes about older people and bring the generations together. It staged its first cocktail party after hearing from some care home residents that although there were plenty of activities put on for them in the daytime they were bored in the evenings.

In the past year, 200+ Magic Me volunteers have hosted 59 parties for 173 residents in eight London care homes.

The parties offer a light hearted social occasion for residents to look forward to and get dressed up for. The volunteers are offered dementia communications training as well as mixology workshops by trained professionals at Shoreditch House, a nearby private members club.

Cocktails in Care Homes works with many businesses across London including John Lewis haberdashers, where their visual merchandise teams get involved by designing and donating to touring themes.