A new activities coordinator at a nursing home is using her dance expertise to help residents.

Juliet Binning trained as a dancer and choreographer, before discovering the benefits of dance movement therapy.

She is now taking on the role of activities coordinator at St Benedict’s Nursing Home in Glastonbury.

Ms Binning said: "I was fascinated to learn how beneficial dance movement therapy can be for stress reduction, disease prevention, and mood management.

"It offers a huge range of emotional, cognitive, physical, and social benefits to promote self-awareness, self-esteem, and a safe space to express your feelings."

After establishing herself as a professional dancer and choreographer, she trained in dance movement therapy to work with adults with learning and physical disabilities, as well as dementia patients.

She ran her own business for 14 years around homes in Somerset.

Ms Binning said: "As well as the obvious physical benefits, dance music therapy can have important positive impacts on residents’ cognitive processing, emotional connection, social interaction and spiritual wellbeing: it is rewarding on so many levels."

At St Benedict's, she plans to organise regular and varied activities and movement sessions, enhancing the already diverse range of musical entertainments, games, and outings available to residents.

She emphasised the importance of music, saying her extensive knowledge of songs, many learned from dementia patients, will be instrumental in her role.

She said: "So many of them really enjoy singing along to the old-time songs and can remember them very well, even when other memories are fading."

(Image: White Care Group) Ms Binning has already been struck by the sense of fun and joy at St Benedict's, both in group and one-to-one sessions.

She said: "I like being able to freely chat and engage with the residents and try and make their day more enjoyable or active.

"I love meeting and learning about new people, especially those older and wiser than me, and am thoroughly looking forward to building relationships with the residents to hopefully facilitate a happier and healthier life."

In her spare time, Ms Binning, who lives in Glastonbury, enjoys running on the moors, yoga, reading, watching comedy, and attending live dance performances.

St Benedict’s Nursing Home is run by White Care Group which has other homes in Shepton Mallet and Taunton.