During this summer I chose to volunteer for Oxford Health Arts Partnership at OSRU, the stroke ward at Abingdon Community Hospital, running arts and crafts workshops for patients. The process to apply as a volunteer was simple and easy; after I completed my application paperwork, background checks, and online training, I was on the ward making art with the patients.

I started off by following the professional artist in residence, Vickie Kearney, during both of her sessions at the hospital. The first was a morning session on the stroke ward. This session was set up in the day room so that patients and their visitors could have a go at a range of creative activities. Sometimes it took a bit of persuasion for them to come and try their hand at something new, but then they had a good go at whatever activity was on offer. Clinical staff often also attend and create their own artwork alongside their patients while getting to know them a bit better. 

It's clear to us, their carers, and their families that when creating an artwork, people can become so focused and absorbed in what they’re doing, which acts as relaxation therapy, which they can then carry on at their bedside or transfer to their home once they’ve been discharged. It is so beneficial for their mental health as well as their physical health as they learn to use muscles in their hands and arms that they might have lost due to their stroke.

The second session I helped Vickie with was in the Abbey Ward, where we offered creative activities at the bedside. Vickie had designed each art activity to be done bedside with the patients, so it was more one-to-one than the session on the stroke ward. Although we spent some time next to patients’ beds, we also had a table in the day room where people could also be creative. We managed to spread ourselves between keeping an eye on the table of crafts as well as spending one-to-one time with people during the 2 hour session. Crafts during this session were mainly focused around drawing, colouring in, and painting, where art could be finished off in their room once we had gone. Occasionally we could mold air drying clay into pinch pots or coasters, as these could dry by their beds for a week and be painted in our next session the following week.

From July, I was able to gain experience delivering workshops for OSRU for the rest of the summer alongside the other arts volunteers. We were able to offer various activities to centre each session around, with the option of painting and drawing being a constant each week. During my time running the sessions, we had a go at wax resist paintings, creating and painting small clay pots, making mosaic pictures, printing using leaves and outdoor shrubbery, creating tissue paper stain glass birds, and putting together and painting wooden birds.

Occasionally, patients would suggest a medium they’d like to try, and we’d aim to find the materials for them to have a go. For example, someone wanted to try calligraphy; however, without an ink pen, it was difficult. So we watered down some black paint and got a fine brush, and he was able to write letters using our homemade ‘ink’. All activities were designed for all patients to have a go at no matter how severe their stroke was and what their ability was afterwards. I found making pinch pots with clay was especially beneficial for regaining movement in the hands and moulding into the right shape. I also found lots of patients got better at holding a pen or pencil as the weeks went by, and some managed to write their name or a message on their piece of work.

Having volunteers support our weekly Art Therapy sessions at OSRU is of immense benefit to patients. In particular, engaging and communicating with people socially is an essential part of rehabilitation for many Stroke survivors and these sessions provide a relaxed setting to practice new skills.  Natasha engaged wonderfully well with patients and brought great value to the sessions. She helped create a calm, fun environment and took time to explain and demonstrate activities. She had the ability to notice when patients were finding something difficult and didn’t hesitate to offer help and encouragement. Natasha was a real asset and both staff and patients are extremely grateful for her time at OSRU!                                                                                                                                                           

Anita Hancox, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

It was so rewarding to see patients come along to art sessions each week, as I could see the improvement, and they seemed to enjoy the couple of hours spent focussing on creating something colourful. Some people came down and just observed; sometimes a change of scenery and a chat with someone new is beneficial for someone’s mental health. Some people had a go at whatever was put in front of them—whether that be colouring in, air dry clay, or a watercolour pallet.

Volunteering at OSRU allowed me to get a taste of what working on a hospital ward was like and whether it was a career option for me later in life. It was a privilege to see the progression in patients for however long they were in the ward for and see the focus and smiles on their faces as they create something they can’t wait to show their families.

 

 To find out more about volunteering and opportunities currently available, visit our volunteer pages - How to volunteer.