So we're being encouraged to try some volunteering to support our thinking and direction through the Send&Receive, (aka, 'the penny dropping' brief). I'm really looking forward to it as it's something I'd consider doing, but give the excuse 'if I had the spare time I'd do it', and now we're being asked to do it, I have no excuses. It's a perfect opportunity to work with a different group of people and experience a different working community/environment.
I wanted to bring a challenge out of this opportunity; I've worked with children before, and have a lot of younger people within my family so I don't feel it would help me a great deal choosing a rather young crowd to work with... I'd like something more challenging, a group of people who I wouldn't be familiar with, and I would have to step outside my comfort zone with and push my abilities of communicating... the brief states we have to identify communication issues/problems/needs which exist around the group. I need to think about how I can 'change society' and help this group.
After looking through the VAL database, I was quite excited and inspired by the role of a 'Workshop Facilitator' at the Oncology Ward at St James' Hospital in Leeds, supplying age appropriate activities for 18-25 year olds, eg. music/art/writing.
This would be an ideal chance for me to work in front of a group of people, where there are obviously sensitivity issues; I would be in an unfamiliar situation and definitely outside of my usual comfort zone. It would be a massive challenge to provide something useful to the group of people, and yet quite satisfying, knowing you're helping people enjoy themselves, in their often difficult situation.
I knew Hannah was interested in the Oncology Ward placement, so thought it'd be good to get her involved so we could work on the workshops together, as a collaboration might make a more successful experience, two heads are better than one and all that. So we went over to the hospital Weds afternoon, and we met Cat and Carrie who oversee the oncology wards. After a quick introduction and a good chat about what to do, we've decided to come back next week and discuss with the patients what they would love to get out of this opportunity.
The new Bexley Wing at St James' Hospital... (The view from the ward is incredible!)
The brief, as I mentioned, wants us to think of something we can do to help or change our group/community. In our case, the aim is to help the patients by providing some form of distraction from their usual environment, and offer them something to do that's exciting and stimulating.
There are several constraints we've got to think about; the space available, the number of people, the fact that week to week there will be different numbers of people and due to the nature of their illness they might not be able to take part for very long if they find it particularly tiring and also the materials available to us and what we can realistically bring along to the hospital.
There are a couple of other workshops running through the week as well for the ward and we need to also find out what the nature of those are, so we're not delivering the same thing as the others.
We have a few initial ideas about what could go on, considering mine and Hannah's previous experiences and past work;
The new Bexley Wing at St James' Hospital... (The view from the ward is incredible!) The brief, as I mentioned, wants us to think of something we can do to help or change our group/community. In our case, the aim is to help the patients by providing some form of distraction from their usual environment, and offer them something to do that's exciting and stimulating.
There are several constraints we've got to think about; the space available, the number of people, the fact that week to week there will be different numbers of people and due to the nature of their illness they might not be able to take part for very long if they find it particularly tiring and also the materials available to us and what we can realistically bring along to the hospital.
There are a couple of other workshops running through the week as well for the ward and we need to also find out what the nature of those are, so we're not delivering the same thing as the others.
We have a few initial ideas about what could go on, considering mine and Hannah's previous experiences and past work;
- Paper making workshops; which can develop into book/card making
- Textiles - brooch/card making
- Animation; stop frames/flip books
- Video
- Photography
- Recycling project; thinking of textiles/reusing/Christmas presents?
- Photoshop/illustrator demonstrations?
In the meantime, check out
where there are a collection of videos from Teenage Oncology wards all over the UK, including video documentaries, stories, experiences and fundraising events, all featuring the patients themselves. It's really touching and quite amazing what some of these young people have been though, and really exciting for me and Hannah to be part of it all too.
where there are a collection of videos from Teenage Oncology wards all over the UK, including video documentaries, stories, experiences and fundraising events, all featuring the patients themselves. It's really touching and quite amazing what some of these young people have been though, and really exciting for me and Hannah to be part of it all too.
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