This month, the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team presented the Emergency Unit at the University Hospital of Wales with a range of colourful artwork to enrich the Children’s Area. The artwork is intended to brighten the environment and offer patients a fun distraction whilst waiting for treatment.
Four Disney Images by Artist, Jerry Limb, who was born without arms due to the drug Thalidomide were kindly donated to the unit by Gary Betton and Christine Williams who received the artwork as a gift from Jerry to their young daughter at the time. Beside the artwork, Jerry has shared words of creative encouragement to children facing health challenges.
The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team also framed a large ‘Where’s Wally?’ poster, which encourages children to find ‘Wally’ in the busy underwater scene.
In addition to this, the unit has also received two artworks which were previously displayed in the ‘Holding on to Hope’ exhibition at the Hearth Gallery, generously donated by the Beth Morris Workshop Students.
The Kickstart Team at Cardiff & Vale Health Charity also ran three creative sessions in the Children’s Area to offer the children the opportunity to colour and paint underwater creatures, whilst they waited to be treated.
“The artwork that was donated to the unit is wonderful. The pictures are bright and colourful and have helped brighten up the department. The children have enjoyed looking at some of their favourite Disney characters and they have certainly helped parents to distract children who are upset and in pain. We are so very grateful for them.
The Kickstart Team were a great bunch. The children enjoyed the simple activities provided and it helped to keep them entertained during their wait.”
-Corrine Stokes, Emergency Unit Play Specialist
It is wonderful to bring together such a varied collection of artworks and activities to be enjoyed in the Children’s Area by patients, parents and Health Board staff.
For more information about the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme, please visit the website: http://www.cardiffandvale.art
To enquire about donating an artwork to one of our Health Board settings, email: bex.betton@wales.nhs.uk