Pupils pioneer link with town hospice
11:48am Friday 12th March 2010 in News
ARTISTS ALL: Mary Stubbs, creative therapist, at Bolton Hospice with, from left, pupils Phoebe Campbell, Harry McCall, Charlotte Thornton and Oliver Crompton, with art work to be displayed at the hospice
A GROUP of schoolchildren have become the first in the borough to link up with Bolton Hospice.
The charity is working with pupils at Belmont Primary School in a bid to raise awareness of its work in the town.
A scheme is running throughout the month, coinciding with Dying Matters Awareness Week, March 15-21, and will culminate with a celebration event at the end of the project.
Staff are visiting the school and pupils aged nine to 11 are taking trips to the hospice to see them and patients. The children are also creating artwork as part of the initiative.
The aim of the project is to teach them about the work of Bolton Hospice, looking at issues around end-of-life care and dying.
Mary Stubbs, Bolton Hospice’s creative therapist, said: “The project is a great opportunity for the children to learn that the hospice is not a scary place, but a place where the lives of the patients are celebrated.”
Jacqui Ryder, clinical support nurse, added: “We hope that the experience of this project will not only allow the children to understand more about the work of the hospice and the care that it gives, but it will enable them to pass their understanding on to their parents, families and friends.”
The project has been designed by the hospice and school, with the children already welcoming staff to the school. They are now spending time at the facility and doing art projects.
Debbie Knight, the Year 5 and 6 teacher at Belmont Primary School, said: “The children really enjoyed the two preparatory sessions with Mary and Jackie.
“Although they do not all have experience of illness and bereavement, thanks to the sensitive and constructive discussions they will confidently walk through the hospice doors.
“The children have produced some wonderful artwork with Mary which will go on display at school.
“So far the project has been a most rewarding experience for the children and we are all looking forward to working with the day therapy patients.”
Bolton Hospice hopes to run similar projects with other local schools in the future.
cherry.thomas@the boltonnews.co.uk
