Torch

Ellie Robinson-Carter

Lecturer: Programme Director MSc Dementia

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Health Sciences
  • School of Psychology and Social Work

Qualifications

  • BA (University of York)
  • MA (Falmouth University)
  • PhD / DPhil (University of Hull)

Summary

Ellie is a Creative Dementia Practitioner, Researcher and Consultant based in Plymouth (UK). Ellie is an expert in using creative practice to enable people with dementia and intergenerational groups to connect to themselves and others, fostering empathy, building belonging and challenging disconnection in our society.

Ellie has 10 years experience of running Sensory Trust’s flagship dementia project Creative Spaces alongside her current role at The Photobook Project. Through her practice and research, Ellie is passionate about empowering the voices of people with dementia and showing what is still possible if the right frameworks, support and opportunities are created for individuals.

Ellie’s research involves using creative methods - such as The Photobook Project - to empower people with dementia to share their perspectives and experiences. Ellie is currently undertaking a PhD at University of Hull with this focus, alongside her role as Programme Director for the MSc Dementia. She also consults on research projects related to dementia, intergenerational activity and older people.

To see Ellie’s full portfolio, please visit her website: www.ellierobinson-carter.com

MSc Dementia - Critical Starting Points, Living Well with Dementia, Dying Well with Dementia, Systems and Ecologies, Dissertation

Research interests

Dementia, Intergenerational, Arts, Nature

Awards and prizes

Awarded Global Fellowship 'The Starling Collective' with Giving Tuesday

2022 - 2023

AMANZE film (created for The Photobook Project, with Lucy Hawes Production) shared widely and awarded

2021 - 2025

Highlighting the impact of dementia on the black community and, in particular, telling the story of Ronald Amanze's life who was diagnosed at age 58. Shown at: Go Mental (Berlin), Mental (Lisbon), Introduce London, Nottingham Film Festival, Covent Garden Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival. Awarded Honourable Mention at Covent Garden Film Festival.

Awarded place on Multiplier Programme, The Cares Family

2021 - 2022

Awarded place on Multiplier Programme by Cares Family, funded by UnLtD (130 applied, 10 places). Includes £10,000 funding for “My Dementia Life Matters” project, to create training package for The Photobook Project, coaching with Iona Lawrence of Jo Cox Foundation, a film made about the project and groundbreaking workshop programme.

Awarded In-Residence with the Inclusivity Project, creating an evidence-base for carers’ involvement in The Photobook Project

2021 - 2022

Awarded In-Residence with the Inclusivity Project to develop care home training pack for The Photobook Project

Winner of Cultivator Cornwall Grant to complete International Certificate in Intergenerational Practice, Generations Working Together

2020

Winner of Graduate Start up Programme, Cultivator Cornwall

2018 - 2019

Exhibitor & Winner of ‘Hope & Renewal’ Photography Competition, Exeter

2017

Award for Outstanding Studentship

2016

Award for Outstanding Studentship on completing of MA Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth University

Charity role

Creative Spaces Project Manager

2016 - 2025

Ellie managed the Creative Spaces project, supporting people living with dementia and their carers to access outdoor spaces and connect with nature, as well as others in their community - including intergenerational activities

Founding Artistic Director

2015 - 2025

Empowering people living with dementia and their communities through the arts. Ellie created the project as part of her MA Illustration: Authorial Practice 2014-16 and it became a CIC in 2022. The project works with communities around the world, shining a light on innovative models of practice and sharing people with dementia’s unique stories.

Committee/Steering group role

"Only Connect!" Co-Chair

2019 - 2025

Ellie co-chairs the “Only Connect!” Network and Conference series, about the benefits of creative intergenerational and inclusive practice and research.

Conference organisation

"Only Connect!" An international community symposium about the benefits of creative intergenerational and inclusive practice and research

2022

We came together to connect on a deeper level. To be vulnerable and engage in new creative approaches to these complex community challenges. “Relationship building is conscious, not accidental” Susan Langford, Magic Me Compounded by living our lives in and out of lockdowns, with services stretched like never before and the postcode lottery being an increasing reality, we reflected on these last three years, celebrating the powe of creativity to connect, rejuvenate, empower and give voice to those who need it most at a time when they need it most. “You need the brain, but leave the thinking to the heart” Ronald Amanze, A Box of Smiles This three day conference involved and connected people at all levels of the system to the work one another are doing. We invited all delegates into this process, so everyone could truly understand through their own participation and connection why they are essential to the fabric and future of our society. We believe that moments like these are when systemic change can happen and how we can, more than ever, be in a position to scale up this essential, important and groundbreaking work.

"Only Connect!" An international community symposium about the benefits of creative intergenerational practice and research

2019

“I didn’t know that I could die of lonelines until I almost did” Trevor Synge Perrin, Ambassador for Sensory Trust In 2019 Ellie brought together people from across the system to create a unique space for connection and to challenge the barriers that face our communities. With a focus on intergenerational practice and research, the conference gave people living with dementia, care commissioners, creative practitioners, young people, national organisations, international representatives of intergenerational projects the opportunity to connect, interrogate and celebrate creative solutions to widespread disconnection and isolation across our communities.

Convenor & Plenary Speaker at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam

2019

Convenor & Plenary Speaker at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam. “Creativity, Community & Connections: Empowering people with dementia through artistic practice”

Conference presentation

Speaker at the 52nd Annual Conference of the Britisth Society of Gerontology

2023

Conference presentation about the power of the arts to shed light on sensory changes experienced when living with dementia

Speaker at Alzheimer Bulgaria Conference 2023, speaking about dementia education

2023

Keynote Speaker about Socially Engaged Practice and Resarch at the Ginkgo Forum, Truro and Penwith College

2021 - 2025

Speaking to Foundation Diploma in Art and Design students, and various Arts BA subjects

Speaker at 12th International Dementia Conference: Transforming Care and Communities, Engaging Dementia. Dublin. ‘The Photobook Project: A creative framework empowering people living with dementia and their wider communities’

2020

Speaker at ‘Chaos’ forum, Falmouth University. “Hello Neighbour!”

2019

Speaker at ‘Chaos’ forum, Falmouth University. Ellie spoke about her residency “Hello Neighbour!” at Humanitas Deventer, Holland.

Winner of Creative Investment Grant from Cultivator Cornwall to speak at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam & 12th International Conference on Alzheimer Rehabilitation, Stockholm

2019

Speaker at Ageing in Place Conference, London

2019

Panelist as part of discussion on technology in dementia care

Speaker at lllustrating Mental Health, University of Worcestor. “Pass the Baton!”

2019

Speaker at ‘Beyond Words’ Conference, Plymouth University

2017

Speaker at ‘Beyond Words’ Conference, Plymouth University. “Why are we going around in circles?”

Speaker at ‘The Monstrous Forum’ Falmouth University

2017

Speaker at ‘The Monstrous Forum’ Falmouth University. “Pokemon Go: The Monstrous Transitory Space”

Speaker at 'Marking Domains' Conference ICA London

2017

Speaker at ‘Marking Domains’ Conference ICA. “Pokemon Go: The Monstrous Transitory Space”

Exhibitor & Speaker at Embodied Cartographies, Fringe Arts Bath

2017

Exhibitor & Speaker at Embodied Cartographies, Fringe Arts Bath. “Observations by the Happy Wanderers”

Speaker at the International Illustration Conference ‘Shaping the View’, Edinburgh College of Art

2016

Speaker at the International Illustration Conference ‘Shaping the View’, Edinburgh College of Art. “Why are we going around in circles?”

Consultancy/Industry advisory role

Consultant for The Linking Network, supporting the development and delivery of a Dementia Ambassador programme for secondary schools in Bradford (UK)

2023

Consultant for iGen, Evidence Synthesis Review with University of Exeter and University of Sheffield. Visit Ellie’s blog page to read a blog post and listen to a podcast by the team.

2021 - 2024

Consultant for iGen, Evidence Synthesis Review with University of Exeter and University of Sheffield. Visit Ellie’s blog page to read a blog post and listen to a podcast by the team.

Other

International residency with Dementia Dogs, Alzheimer Bulgaria and Every Dog Matters EU

2023

International residency with Dementia Dogs, Alzheimer Bulgaria and Every Dog Matters EU, funded by Daughters of the Daily Special

Featured in Frankie Magazine about The Photobook Project

2022

Interviewed by Frankie Magazine about The Photobook Project, released in print and online across the globe.

Interviewed by It's Nice That magazine for an Opinion Piece

2022

Awarded funding from the Ideas Fund to work with Butterflies (Hull) and MSc Dementia to deliver The Photobook Project and create an evidence-base for the benefits for people living with dementia

2021 - 2023

Awarded funding from the Ideas Fund to work with Butterflies (Hull) and Dr Emma Wolverson to deliver The Photobook Project and create an evidence-base for the benefits for people living with dementia

Ambassador for The Creative Health Project with Arts Well

2021 - 2023

Ambassador for The Creative Health Project with Arts Well, covering Launceston and the Tamar Valley (Cornwall)

International Residency with Run Tomo Japan, titled "Pass the Baton!"

2019

“Pass the Baton!” residency in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan with Run Tomorrow project. Funded by Daiwa Foundaton, September 2019

International Residency at Humanitas, Deventer titled ‘Hello Neighbour!”

2018

Ellie spent a month at Humanitas, embodying the role of a student there and living alongside her elder neighbour - Joke. This resulted in collection 7 of The Photobook Project: "Hello Neighbour!", funded by the Arts Council International Development Fund

Internship with Atlantic Press Books

2014 - 2016

Completed internship with Atlantic Press Books, Falmouth. Included: supporting artists and writers in the design of their books, marketing & social media, representing the press at national book fairs

Visiting/Invited Professor

VL on MA Illustration, Falmouth University. Focus: Residencies and Fundraising

2022 - 2025

Creative Director for Homes that Care Project with MA Illustration at University of Plymouth

2022 - 2024

Supervisor for The Reader Project, MA Illustration 'Illustration and Mental Health'

2021

Mentor at The Photographer's Gallery, London

2021

VL for BA Drawing, Falmouth University. Focus: Residencies and Fundraising

2020 - 2025

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