Wellbeing boxes launched to support patients through creativity and connection | News

Patients at Dewsbury and District Hospital and Pinderfields Hospital are set to benefit from a new creative health initiative designed to support wellbeing, reduce isolation and enhance patient experience during their hospital stay.

The creative wellbeing boxes form the first phase of the Creative Health for Recovery programme, a partnership between MY Hospitals Charity and Everybody Arts. The boxes have been co-designed with patients and staff, and are being initially rolled out on Ward 5/6, Stroke and Neurology at Dewsbury and District Hospital, and the Yorkshire Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Pinderfields Hospital.

Each ward will have access to two different types of wellbeing boxes. One which contains three to four accessible activities that patients can enjoy independently or with minimal support, while the second includes activities designed for small groups, aimed at encouraging conversation, creativity and shared experiences between patients. The boxes will have different themes and activities for patients to take part in, such as collage, painting, drawing, printmaking, and exploring nature.

Initially starting as a six-month pilot, the aim of the initiative is to make creativity a more accessible and consistent part of hospital life, recognising the positive benefits that self-expression and social connection can have on wellbeing during recovery.

Emma Dickens, Associate Director of Charity and Partnerships at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “We’re really delighted to be working with Everybody Arts to roll out the wellbeing boxes as the first stage of the Creative Health for Recovery programme.”

“The boxes have been developed alongside patients and staff to provide accessible opportunities for creativity, whether independently or with others. We hope they will help make time in hospital more engaging and help support patients' wellbeing and recovery."

Bailey, a patient on Ward 5/6 at Dewsbury Hospital, said: “I’ve really enjoyed the activity today. I haven’t been able to walk for 5 months, so to do something like this today, to see normal people and do a normal activity has really made a difference.”

Everybody Arts is an arts and creative health charity that delivers artist-led wellbeing programmes across NHS and community settings. The organisation works with NHS Trusts to embed creativity into recovery pathways and support patient wellbeing.