In our fourth blog of the series, we take a look at a life-changing initiative designed to enhance the wellbeing through creativity of children with lifelong health conditions in Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. We also feature an ambitious and exciting music-centred initiative which aspires to enrich the lives, health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members living in Dublin.

Creativity Changing Young Lives in the Mid-West – Tipperary County Council in partnership with Clare County Council and Limerick City and County Council

In 2023, Helium Arts worked in partnership with Limerick City and County Council to deliver a pilot of this arts project with teens. This fund will now enable an extension of this initiative in 2024 and 2025 to support children aged 8 – 16 across the Mid-West region with chronic lifelong physical health conditions through their participation in creative activities.

The Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland departments within Tipperary, Limerick and Clare County Councils, along with staff from the HSE, are partnering with Helium Arts to provide the programme.

A professional artist is working in Outpatient Paediatric Clinics in University Hospital Limerick, while three more artists are delivering workshops via the Community Programme in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Ongoing training and supervision will be facilitated for all. It is also planned to implement an artist-led volunteer programme at the Clinics.

A number of successful creative camps took place in summer 2024. The activities which were enjoyed through both these and the Outpatients Paediatric Clinics included making stained glass windows, zines, collages, stamps, kaleidoscopes, animation / flipbooks, stories and a treasure hunt where offcuts from the stained glass activity and ‘grid’ paper were used to create a map! These workshops will continue through autumn and winter and across 2025.

Following meetings with the project partners, the Helium Arts Mid-West Advisory group has been formed to engender further collaboration and communication. The intention of this widely represented group is to foster a sustainable model of support to children with long-term physical health conditions. The partners will support Helium Arts by providing local information and insights to enhance the project and reach those most in need.

Helium Arts is a children’s charity committed to improving the wellbeing of children and young people who are living with lifelong physical health conditions. These creative workshops offer a unique avenue for expression, connection, healing and increased confidence, and a safe space for children to explore their emotions, communicate their experiences, and engage with peers who understand their journey. It is expected that participating children will experience significant improvements in their mental and emotional wellbeing.

St Agnes’ Community Centre for Music and the Arts Harmony Hub – Dublin City Council

Music is at the core of this wide-ranging, inclusive programme which will foster wellbeing through creativity for a number of different targeted communities in Dublin city. These include vulnerable groups such as older persons, those in temporary or social accommodation, and at-risk youths. The initiative offers creative quality, a significant and sustained reach, and plenty of variety through its multiple strands.

The Memory Lane Choir for those living and caring for people with Alzheimers and Dementia, and adults with intellectual disabilities, provides a platform for older adults to engage in creative expression while promoting cognitive retention and social interaction. By incorporating elements of reminiscence and nostalgia, the choir fosters a sense of belonging and continuity, contributing to the sustained wellbeing of its members.

Working with Fold Housing Ireland to reach residents aged 55 years and over in sheltered housing, the initiative aims to build collaboration with link workers to offer instrumental tuition and music ensembles to combat loneliness and isolation.

Similarly, music programmes without financial burden will be offered to families, including lone parents, at Respond Housing support with a focus on early years inclusion.

Support for the Late Starters Orchestra for adults will see enhanced social involvement, and encourage lifelong learning skills, while the intergenerational Musical Society will benefit from the facilitation of enhanced community spirit through music and drama.

Throughout this programme St. Agnes’ will collaborate with social prescribing professionals in Dublin South Central Partnership; the Health Promotion and Improvement Team, HSE Health and Wellbeing, Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow; HSE Older Persons Services; and local community groups.

At its very core, St. Agnes’ advocate for equality and inclusion for all, by breaking down barriers of access to meaningful and high quality music programmes so that they can enrich people’s lives and empower them, thus ensuring that everyone, in a truly intergenerational way, is both part of and helps build their own community.

The programme is already up and running with its first classes having commenced in September 2024.