As the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England, it's important that the feedback we gather reflects the views of children and young people from all over the region. Their experiences of mental health and physical healthcare may be very different, depending on where they live.
An enthusiastic group of students at Luton Sixth Form College joined us for a creative workshop to talk about perceptions of mental health in their communities.
We focused on how different age groups might think about mental health – from toddler to grandparent – and how families could be made to feel more comfortable opening up about their mental health, and how they're feeling, when they visit the new hospital. The feedback from these conversations will go back to the Cambridge Children’s Hospital team. It will help us consider how we welcome families from all backgrounds and cultures to the new hospital and ensure their mental health is supported in a way that feels right for them.
Saher, 17, who wants to go into a healthcare career, gives her thoughts on the Cambridge Children's Hospital designs
Link: https://youtu.be/P2bnIHZo0D4
While we chatted, the young people were also encouraged to start designing the artistic concepts for our costumes at Luton International Carnival. They used feathers, braid, glitter and glue to work on their ideas. Our creative team from UK Centre for Carnival Arts (opens in a new tab), Jo and Klaudia, will work these up into a final design to be worn at carnival by our Press Packer and Young Ambassador, Hadia. Over the coming weeks, the students, plus children, young people and families, will help build our final costumes for carnival day.
Luton International Carnival is on Sunday May 28th. Doors open in St George’s Square at midday, with the parade starting at 1pm. We do hope you will come and visit the Cambridge Children's Hospital stand and cheer us on in the carnival procession.
