Kent Students Bring Joy Through Art Sessions at Local Hospice

Kent students from Sevenoaks School collaborate with Hospice in the Weald to offer creative art sessions, providing joy and connection to people with life-limiting conditions through ceramics and clay workshops.

Students Collaborate with Hospice for Creative Workshops

A group of students from Kent have partnered with a local hospice to conduct art sessions for individuals living with life-limiting conditions.

Pupils from years 11 to 13 at Sevenoaks School participate in workshops organized by the Hospice in the Weald in Pembury, where they create ceramics and other clay-based art pieces.

Nicola has a dark brown hair and is smiling as she looks to camera, wearing a blue jumper — Nicola King says the art sessions are "the icing on the cake at the hospice

Participants Share Impact of Art Sessions

Nicola King, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 31, expressed the significance of the sessions in her life.

"I love coming to this session," she said. "It's creative, I don't have the use of both of my arms so being creative is very difficult for me."

Another participant, Sarah Reeve, who experiences limited hand mobility, described the sessions as an "injection of creativity."

"You can explain what you want to do and then it's as much your creation as anything," she explained.

Sarah looks to the camera. She has pink hair and is using a wheelchair. She is wearing a black top and an orange scarf. — Sarah Reeve used to watch what everyone else was doing, but now she shares her ideas and works with the students to make creative pieces

Students Reflect on the Experience

Andrew, an 18-year-old student, shared his perspective on the art-making process.

"Usually when we look at art I think we only look at the final product but in a way I think we often ignore this experience of making things together."

Year 11 pupil Sofiia highlighted the unifying nature of the sessions.

"Some of these people we've met throughout this journey, and they're only here for a certain period of time, but we get so close to them throughout art and I feel like art is the kind of thing that really, really brings us together."

Living Well Programme and Fundraising Efforts

These workshops are part of the free Living Well activities offered at the Pembury hospice. The hospice plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this programme by auctioning artwork created by participants.

The hospice requires £9 million annually to support various projects, including ongoing refurbishments aimed at developing a new in-patient ward and an enhanced Living Well area.