'˜Believe in you' - inspirational spruce up of children's ward at Vic

Work by children’s artist Charlotte Reed has been printed and hung on walls, in a project paid for by the hospital’s kitchen manager Darren Cadwell.

Darren, who also works as a doorman at Yates’, collected money from pub customers and gave it the hospital’s in-house charity, the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

He said: “I wanted the money to go the children’s ward. My daughter, who is 12 now, was in there once.

“It looks such much brighter now. It’s fantastic.”

Rosanne Norman, a play specialist for the Trust, came up with the idea to ask Charlotte if her artwork could be used to brighten up the unit.

She said: “Charlotte was absolutely delighted to support us with her artwork.

“I love it. I think it looks great. Patients have commented that they love it.”

Rebecca Addey, the hospital’s paediatric patient experience officer, added: “Young people from our youth forum – Victoria’s Voice – chose the quotes for the walls. They loved the artwork too.

“Since the artwork has been on the wall, patients have been coming into the common areas more often.

“This is something we always want to encourage as it breaks up their time here.

“We do get young people with mental health issues on the unit.

“We thought the inspirational quotes would be something for them to think about.

“It’s also nice for parents as the quotes apply to people of all ages.”