A £10,000 grant from London Freemasons will support creative:tandem’s work to improve children's mental health through creative art therapy within London Hospitals. This bespoke programme has been designed to enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of young people with serious mental ill-health conditions who require hospital admission. 

Each hospital project will deliver 15 high-quality, inclusive creative workshops delivered as three one-week “residencies”. Led by Create’s professional artists each residency will focus on a different artform (eg drama, sculpture). Workshops are designed in consultation with hospital staff to ensure that participants’ needs and interests are incorporated. Each residency will culminate in an informal sharing of participants’ artwork,allowing participants to celebrate their achievements with one another and hospital staff, strengthening the relationships developed during the project and increasing their self-esteem.

The grant will support the project at Bethlem (Bethlem Royal Hospital, Bromley) and Snowsfields (Maudsley Hospital, Southwark) Children's Units.  Creative:tandem delivers on the NHS-approved Five Ways to Wellbeing, enabling participants to feel connected, keep learning, take notice, give and be active.

Feedback has shown that by taking part in this important project will enable participants to:

• improve their wellbeing
• develop their creative and artform (eg: music) skills
• develop their communication and teamwork skills
• grow in confidence
• feel valued through having their ideas listened to
• enjoy working with Create’s professional artists

Additionally, the Children’s Units will have their provision enriched and enhanced.

Create is the UK’s leading charity reducing isolation, enhancing wellbeing and empowering lives through the creative arts. In 2024, the charity won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award in recognition of its creative approach to enhancing lives. Create’s programmes are delivered by professional artists across 22 different artforms. Each is planned in collaboration with a specialist community partner to meet participants’ unique needs and interests. Since 2003, Create has run 15,520 creative arts workshops with 47,557 disadvantaged participants.

The creative arts have the power to transform lives, offering hope and inspiration to individuals facing adversity. At Create, the charity sees every day the profound impact that creativity has on people’s mental health and wellbeing. When given the chance to engage with the creative arts, people learn new skills, build connections, find fulfilment, and discover the sheer joy of creating. Create sees this clearly when working with the young people on our creative:tandem programme, where creativity supports them in dealing with serious mental health issues and gives them a voice.

Nicky Goulder MBE, Founding Chief Executive, Create said:

“Create is hugely grateful to London Freemasons for this generous grant, enabling us to bring the power of the creative arts to those who need it most.”

Paul King, London Freemasons said:

“This is an exciting project and we are proud to be able to provide Create with this grant, knowing that it will be used to help improve the mental well-being of young people living in our local communities.”