18 Jul 2017 Care

Art as Therapy at Kirkwood Hospice

In collaboration with HOOT Creative Arts, Kirkwood Hospice’s Support & Therapy Centre offers creative arts sessions to anyone with a life-limiting illness, their loved ones and their carers

In addition to Kirkwood’s 16 bedded In-Patient Unit, the Community Palliative Care Team, the Family Care Team and Spiritual Care, those in the Kirklees area with a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness can also access the Hospice’s services through its Support & Therapy Centre.

Based at Hospice, the Support & Therapy Team is there to offer advice on a whole range of issues and can help those with a life-limiting illness to gain confidence and increase their sense of well-being.

As part of the multi-disciplinary approach to care taken at Kirkwood, Art and Creative Therapy is just one of a range of therapies available through the Support & Therapy Centre for patients and their carers.

In a new addition, Kirkwood Hospice have teamed up with local Creative Therapy and well-being company ‘HOOT Creative Arts’, to organise fun opportunities for Kirkwood’s patients and their loved-ones to benefit from.

HOOT’s ethos is that 'we all have a creative and imaginative capacity that is of central importance to our mental and physical health, wellbeing and happiness.' Their aim is to release this capacity.

“Our mission is to support the development of creativity to build confidence and esteem, encourage personal growth and foster creative expression.”

The weekly HOOT classes are completely free and take place every Wednesday afternoon in Kirkwood’s Support & Therapy Centre.

Based on an eight week rotation, a range of creative activities are available, with the classes so far covering painting, song-writing and felting and the current classes focussing on pottery, taught and led by professional, Dave Helm.

Maxine Quinn Taylor, Kirkwood Hospice’s Activities Support Worker said:

"Our weekly Art Therapy sessions with HOOT are absolutely fantastic for our patients. It’s a fun way to relax, unwind, and promote personal well-being; taking away from the daily stresses posed by a life-limiting illness." Maxine Quinn Taylor

“Our weekly Art Therapy sessions with HOOT are absolutely fantastic for our patients. It’s a fun way to relax, unwind, and promote personal well-being; taking away from the daily stresses posed by a life-limiting illness. It’s also the perfect opportunity to meet other friendly faces, going through similar life situations.

“The care offered at Kirkwood Hospice is so much more than medical treatments; it’s also about the soul. We encourage anyone who thinks they might be interested to come along and try it out for themselves. We think you’ll be surprised.”

If you think you or anyone you know could benefit from Kirkwood’s services, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

For more information and to speak to a member of the team, please contact Support & Therapy on: 01484 557900