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Heartbeat: Patients put their creativity into action

January 9, 2019

Talented students from Sandwell College made their first trip to our hospitals last month, ready to inspire patients through a variety of simple and fun arts and crafts activities.

The creative workshops, which are co-organised by the charity Kissing it Better and Sandwell College, aim to bring arts into hospitals to “brighten up” patients’ days. The students visited Lyndon Ground and Lyndon 4 wards in November.

Jackie Roxborough, Project Lead and Practitioner for Kissing it Better, explained more to Heartbeat: “We are delighted to work with Sandwell College and the Trust to deliver this initiative.

“After talking to patients and staff, we felt that having creative workshops within hospitals would greatly benefit patients. Most of the time, patients spend time alone in the hospital without many engaging activities.

“We have worked with Sandwell College on other projects, and felt that patients would benefit greatly from sessions with art students. We are glad that this initiative has been taken on board by both organisations.”

Mardeen Blbas, one of the students, said: “I’m so happy to be part of this project. When I first heard about it, I couldn’t wait to come in and work with patients.

“It was a great joy to see the young patients’ smiles when I showed them how to colour 3D animation pictures. I feel that I’m part of a large community where my skills can make a difference to someone.”

Bashir Hewer, a stroke patient on Lyndon 4, added: “It’s such a wonderful initiative. Although I couldn’t do much as my condition affects the movement of my hands, I still learned how to fold a paper poppy flower. The students brightened up my day, so I just want to thank them a lot for coming in and spending time with us.”

The workshops will continue from now until next year. Posters have been put up across the hospitals with more details. If you feel your patients would benefit from this initiative, please contact Jackie via email at jackieroxborough@outlook.com.