DaDa x Alder Hey

Intro
Through our collaboration with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, DaDa enables young patients to establish their own voice and express themselves creatively.

Who's involved?
Patients aged 10-18 with an interest in the arts are put forward for the programme by Alder Hey’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It’s then down to the DaDa team to respond to each participant’s interests and arrange for them to receive training from specialists in the artform of their choice.

Why do we need it?
Receiving support to pursue creative interests allows participants to develop a tangible skill whilst they are receiving treatment. In addition to developing artistic skills, we hope that there will be wider benefits for those involved such as reducing isolation, increasing confidence and self-belief, and genuine steps towards a career path in the arts.

How does it work? Patients with an interest in the arts at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital are allocated up to 20 hours of 1-1 sessions with an artist related to their particular area of interest. These have included beatboxing, digital art, fashion, singing and lots more. DaDa also creates opportunities for participants to showcase their skills, for example through exhibits and performances in the hospital’s atrium.

Partners
Our partners on this project are Children in Need and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.