Arts for Health collaborates with Shakespeare North
Children and young people at Alder Hey have been exploring the power of creativity through rap, graffiti, DJing and beatboxing as part of a special six-week programme delivered in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse.
The sessions formed part of Alder Hey’s Arts for Health programme, made possible thanks to donations to Alder Hey Children’s Charity. The programme brings creative experiences into the hospital environment to support wellbeing and provide positive distractions from treatment.
Throughout the programme, creative artists worked directly with children, young people and their families across the hospital, delivering sessions in bedrooms, the hospital school classroom and the atrium.
Rap artist Blue Saint, DJ Lucy Wharton, graffiti artist Sie Daly and beatboxer Chris Maylor introduced children and young people to a range of creative activities inspired by Shakespearean prose and poetry and their influence on modern art forms such as rap and spoken word.
Young people had the opportunity to develop new skills in songwriting and poetry, while children explored creating their own graffiti signatures, experimenting with beatboxing and learning how to mix music using professional DJ decks. The sessions gave children and young people the chance to express themselves creatively, build confidence and enjoy meaningful moments of fun while spending time in hospital.
Feedback from families was overwhelmingly positive. All children who took part said they enjoyed the sessions, with 88% saying they felt much more positive afterwards. Staff across the wards also welcomed the sessions, particularly the DJing activities, which helped create a relaxed and uplifting atmosphere throughout the hospital.
The project highlights the important role creativity can play in supporting emotional wellbeing during hospital stays. Through programmes like Arts for Health, Alder Hey continues to bring music, art and performance into clinical spaces, helping to brighten the days of young people, children and their families.
The programme was delivered in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse, whose artists brought energy, creativity and inspiration to every session.
Programmes like this are only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, whose donations help bring innovative wellbeing initiatives to children and young people across the hospital.
