BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts graduate, Emma Atkins, developed a paid role for herself at Ty Hafan Children's Hospice delivering creative arts workshops, through her placement.

"I mainly do 1-1 sessions with a caseload of children in the community but I also facilitate days where families come in to receive a whole day of play and arts activities in the hospice.

The 1-1 sessions have been focused on developing communication, facilitating enjoyment and providing relaxation and distraction from discomfort.

I’ve found it extremely rewarding to help families to communicate with their child/sibling again if their needs have changed, and also show them that their child/sibling can still enjoy play and arts, just that they may need to be adapted to suit their needs.

I’ve also been working with families to create individual play packs; personal books of exciting play and arts activities that the families can do with the child. 

The skills I have learnt on the BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts has also enabled me to help other practitioners and I am now working with our male family support practitioner about potentially setting up some group arts sessions for the dads.

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to have my placement at Tŷ Hafan"