WONDER-FULL
This summer, we were proud to work in partnership with Fable Arts and Clifton Hospital on the Wonder-Full project to bring the outside in and onto the wards. Wonder-Full focused on improving wellbeing on the wards and was rooted in the thinking that healthy minds support healing bodies.
Bringing a sense of achievment and fun to weekly sessions
For several weeks, a creative engagement and participation programme was embedded into everyday practice: together the Wonder-Full team built an installation of nature inspired objects, writings, textiles and sounds that were inspired by personal stories of enjoying the outdoors; making and writing focused on how fresh air motivates and invigorates and can soothe the mind; and, from crochet and clay work to poems and painting, hands and minds helped to create something new whilst projecting outward thoughts.
Over eight weeks, professional dance artist Anna Daly and emerging artist Maiya Leeke worked with Ludus Dance and the patients on two wards using music and gentle movement to bring a sense of achievement and fun to weekly sessions.
Being in hospital, or indeed any care facility where you are reliant on someone else’s physical and/or medical support, can be frustrating and boring. The days are long; the noise and routine, incessant; the visitors too few and far between. It can be hard to keep your spirits up.
Some of the highlights
Maiya commented: “A particular highlight was one gentleman said, “I just felt so well today when I took part. I have really enjoyed myself”. That, for me, sums up simply what it’s all about – providing a distraction, a positive new focus, and ultimately bringing enjoyment to the patients when they most need it.
Over the course of our weekly sessions, we saw some of our participants get well enough to go home, whilst others told us they looked forward to having something constructive and creative to do – even if they’d never done it before.
Take a look at the project
Take a look at our video to see more of the Wonder-Full things that happened and the impact of this project.
Wonder-Full was nominated for Blackpool Teaching Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust Innovation and Service Improvement Award at their 2018 Celebrating Success Awards. We were thrilled to have been considered alongside so many important medical teams and traditional health programmes.
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing move news about the project through a series of moving and inspiring videos by David Forrest.
A collaborative project
This project was a creative collaboration between Fable Arts, Ludus Dance and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, generously supported by Community Foundation for Lancashire United Utilities Lancashire Community Fund and Fylde Council.
