Tag: young patients

Creativity in hospital: supporting young people’s wellbeing through art

Posted on October 22, 2026 by communications - Blogs, Stories

Creativity in hospital: supporting young people’s wellbeing through art

For children and young people receiving hospital treatment, opportunities to be creative can offer a welcome change from the routines and challenges of hospital life. Whether making art, experimenting with photography or building something from scratch, creative activities can provide time to explore new skills, connect with others and focus on something enjoyable.

Create’s creative:tandem programme brings professional artists into hospitals to deliver multi-artform projects with children and young people admitted due to demanding mental health conditions.

Through a range of accessible and engaging creative activities, the programme gives young patients opportunities to express themselves, develop confidence and enjoy working alongside others, with workshops adapted to their individual needs.

We spoke to staff member Paula and participants Nadia* and Christopher* about their experiences on the programme.

Creating without pressure at Galaxy House

In February 2026, Create artist Julia Roy-Williams delivered five days of visual art workshops at Galaxy House, a specialist NHS inpatient unit for children and young people with complex mental health needs.

For young people receiving treatment in hospital, individual needs and circumstances can vary significantly. Paula, a member of staff at Galaxy House, highlighted how the flexibility of the workshops helped participants engage in ways that felt manageable for them:

“There’s been no expectation placed on them, it’s based on what they can manage, because all the young people are here for different reasons. There’s no judgment for them, no pressure. Create have really taken into consideration their different needs. And when they’ve needed help, it’s been offered.

“[The project] has been bringing them out of themselves, giving them encouragement to go ‘I can do that’.”

Building confidence and self-esteem through creative activities

Alongside opportunities to experiment with materials and learn new skills, Paula observed changes in how some young people approached the sessions.

For participants navigating difficult aspects of their treatment, having something creative to focus on offered a valuable break:

“It’s a really good distraction for them. Some of them have come from difficult appointments, such as being fed, and they might not be feeling great about themselves.

“One young person, for example, came in quite withdrawn, but has come here and really got into it. A lot of them don’t have much confidence, but this really boosts their self-esteem. They’ve learned about how resilient they are. Creativity is a great therapeutic distraction for some kinds of illnesses.”

Paula also emphasised the value of making creative opportunities available within hospital settings:

“There are so many benefits to this; [projects like this] are scarce and we hope it continues.”

Exploring imagination through photography and animation

In April 2026, Create returned to Galaxy House for a five-day photography project led by professional photographer Becky Lattin.

Participants explored photography and stop-frame animation, using images to bring their ideas to life.

Nadia, who had been staying at Galaxy House for several months, described how joining in with activities made a difference to her day:

“I’ve been at Galaxy House for three months and 16 days. If you’re feeling sad, joining in with activities can make you feel better.”

“This [Create] project was wonderful. We took photos, made stop-frame animation and we did some art. I made Glinda the Witch travelling around from the sea to the sky!”

As well as enjoying the chance to experiment with different artforms, Nadia valued being creative alongside other young people:

“[Working with others] was cool. I like being creative and doing arts and crafts, because it’s good to use your imagination.”

Discovering new skills through model making

Also in April 2026, Create artist Paul Pickford delivered five days of model making workshops at Junction 17, a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for young people aged 13-17 who require treatment for complex mental health difficulties.

The workshops gave participants opportunities to develop their own designs, experiment with materials and explore what they could create.

For Christopher, who took part in the project, the creative process offered a chance to concentrate on something different and take time away from other pressures:

“[This has been] relaxing, it takes your mind off things. It’s important for people to take a break from doing certain things and have a chance to stretch their minds. Creative things help you learn skills like visualisation and just generally relaxing.”

The experience also encouraged him to explore his own abilities:

“[This project] has given me an opportunity to test my limits of what I can do.”

Why creative opportunities matter for young people in hospital

The experiences of Paula, Nadia and Christopher reflect the importance of offering varied, flexible activities within hospital settings, recognising that every young person’s circumstances, interests and abilities are different.

Through creative:tandem, Create’s professional artists provide opportunities for young patients to explore their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others during what can be a challenging time in their lives.

As Christopher reflected, having the chance to create can be an opportunity to discover what you’re capable of.

People Need To Create.

* Participant name changed to protect anonymity.

creative:tandem is currently funded by The Simon Rivett-Carnac Trust.

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HOW CREATIVITY HAS IMPROVED BLAIR’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

Posted on September 23, 2024 by communications - Stories

HOW CREATIVITY HAS IMPROVED BLAIR’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

creative:tandem is our multi-artform project with young people admitted to mental health units due to serious conditions including psychotic, depressive, anxiety and eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thinking. For five days in August 2024, Create artist Sarah Grant delivered visual art workshops at Galaxy House, an inpatient service in Manchester helping young people with a range of conditions including eating disorders, Pervasive Arousal Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), OCD and Psychosis.

We spoke to Blair (17) about her experience on this project. Blair was admitted to Galaxy House in May 2024.

Blair’s Story

“I have PAWS, which is Pervasive Arousal Withdrawal Syndrome, classified under FND (Functional Neurological Disorder). I have been in Galaxy House for nearly 18 weeks. I had appendicitis last year and then I was unable to walk and paralysed. We thought I was going to get better, so I was discharged. I had carers, all of that. But then my symptoms just regressed. I had a nasogastric tube and they were looking for external rehabilitation places. Galaxy House fitted my needs, it’s a very specialised facility. My symptoms have definitely improved here and I’ve obtained a much better quality of life.”

THE VISUAL ART WORKSHOP

“We’ve been doing various creative tasks for the week. We did some acrylic painting, art using nature as inspiration, experimental watercolours, clay modelling with terracotta clay, and spray painting. We were free to do whatever inspired us. I liked the free reign given to the young people and how it like dispels the conception that art has to be one specific thing.”

“Working as a group was quite fun. I think it showed the group’s dynamics in a very different way. Art can harness what others are feeling, which can be quite satisfying.”

THE joys of creating

“Being creative has made me feel very fulfilled because I can achieve something tangible, which is not linked to something academic. I think it’s good to have a safe space where you can contribute different creative ideas that don’t have to be intellectually judged.

“[When creating] I feel satisfied as it’s relaxing and very enjoyable.”

“It’s been nice that we had a whole week dedicated to different forms of art.”

TAKEAWAYS

“Taking part in this project, I learned that art can be quite relaxing and therapeutic and that it can also help with pain. Obviously, I rely on painkillers, but art can calm your body down, which is quite nice.”

“Projects like these can help people in hospital see a different perspective. We can see the beauty in the very mundane things through art. And it differentiates our days. It’s also nice informal environment. We can interact with nurses more casually, because they’re not writing notes on you.”

creative:tandem is funded by The Prudence Trust

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY

Posted on June 30, 2023 by communications - Stories, Blogs

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVITY

Community is one of the most powerful protective factors for wellbeing. Research by Office for National Statistics found that people with strong social connections report higher life satisfaction and lower levels of anxiety, while loneliness is linked to poorer mental and physical health outcomes.

For young people admitted to inpatient mental health services, building connections can be difficult. Long stays in hospital, interrupted education and periods of isolation can make it harder to form friendships and maintain confidence.

Create’s creative:tandem programme works with children and young people admitted to mental health units due to serious conditions including psychotic, depressive, anxiety and eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thinking. It provides them with vital opportunities to create, connect and express themselves through the creative arts.

Creating together

In 2025/26, we delivered three creative arts projects at Bethlem Adolescent Unit (BAU). We spoke to Donna, Activity Coordinator at BAU, about the impact these have on young people.

“Some of these kids haven’t got confidence, they haven’t been in education and so they’ve not been socialising and [feel] isolated.”

Led by our professional artists, the workshops gave participants the opportunity to work with materials including clay, textiles, paint and collage. For Donna, having artists come into the unit provides something different:

“Create brings a new dynamic to the unit; it encourages young people to join together and it builds their confidence. It’s a good thing to have a professional coming from outside.”

GROWING CONFIDENCE

Many of the young people at BAU have experienced significant setbacks and challenges before arriving on the ward. Donna recalled one participant who took part in a visual arts project:

“[There was] a boy in the summer who had mania and was really poorly. He was using clay [in a Create workshop] and instead of being told ‘you can’t do that’, [Create’s artist] was saying ‘that’s fantastic. Let’s display this work.’ He thought it was marvellous.”

“It’s inclusion for young people who haven’t been included, for young people who have been told ‘your work is not good enough.’ “

An artist telling them that their project is brilliant – [this] builds their confidence.
Donna, activity coordinator at bau

By focusing on creativity rather than limitations, our projects help young people see themselves in a different light.

Building a community

Research consistently shows that shared activities help to strengthen social bonds. Creativity can be particularly powerful because it provides a common goal, helping conversations and connections develop naturally.

Donna saw this happen throughout the workshops:

“[The workshops] encourage the staff and young people to interact more positively. Most of the [participants] are quite individual and do their own thing. When Create are here, even though they’re doing different projects, the [participants] are all in the same room and chatting.

“People say “do you want some of my clay?” or “shall we do this together?” and soon they’re passing beads around and making a bracelet [together]. It’s good for everybody, including the staff, who are always firefighting and don’t get to do creative things. They [get] a different perspective on a child and they think “I can try getting some clay from the art room next time.”

For young people who may feel disconnected from education, friendships or everyday life, these moments of connection matter:

“[Creativity] is a great expression.“

It builds their self-esteem and helps them connect with other young people.
Donna, activity coordinator at bau

“They [feel] actual achievement when they see their work displayed. They [learn] that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. They’re smiling and enjoying it, [focused] on the here and now and not worrying about what’s going on.“

Why this work matters

At Create, we believe creativity is about more than self-expression. It is also about connection.

Projects like creative:tandem enable young people to work alongside one another, share ideas and experience a sense of belonging during what can be an incredibly difficult period in their lives.

By creating together, participants build confidence, strengthen relationships and become part of a community.

Thank you to London Freemasons’ Charity for funding this project.