Youngsters' art brightens up hospital

9:53pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

TEENAGERS' efforts were rewarded when they were able to present Great Western Hospital with their artwork.

Eleven young people, aged 13 to 18, completed two landscape paintings during their February half-term break, and on several Saturdays.

Charity group the Swindon Mentoring And Self Help (SMASH) youth project set up the art workshop sessions as part of its role to train mentors for young people.

And yesterday the youngsters' efforts went on show in the emergency department at Swindon's hospital.

Wendy Spackman, a mentor to David Bryant, said: "I think it's something that the teenagers were quite proud of.

"And they were amazed at how it all turned out seeing as all of them said we've never painted before, we can't do it'.

"They need a pat on the back rather than being complained at - someone to believe in them."

There are currently 44 children involved in the SMASH mentoring scheme which pairs youngsters, referred to the scheme, with an adult mentor.

Gordon Dickinson and Toni Robinson of art company No Added Sugar were also available to help the teenagers with the painting.

According to SMASH project manager Richard Roberts, the idea of the painting scheme was to make art accessible and remove it from the school environment and to build-up relations between the mentor and the child.

David Bryant, 15, of Park South, is one of the charity's many success stories.

After the art workshop he was asked by the artist to help at other children's workshops over Easter.

Mr Roberts described how far David had come since he had first met him.

"David said he'd stay for the first hour of the painting session," he said.

"But over time an interest, and a skill he didn't know he had, started to blossom."

Bethan Whitehead, a nurse in the accident and emergency department, who accepted the painting for the hospital, said the pictures would be put in single cubicles to brighten them up.

Children are referred to SMASH by Swindon Council if they are considered vulnerable - and if without help they might not achieve their full potential.

Each child is given an adult mentor who they do activities with.

Eddie Hanratti, 15, of Penhill, also took part in the scheme.

"I'm not into art, but I enjoyed doing this and I'm glad I did it," he said.

He and Margaret Waterfall, 13, a pupil at Churchfields School, said that if it was not for the project they would have been at home, indoors.

Margaret said: "It was nice to do it in half term - it gave me something to do because I get bored easily."

She added the paintings already put up from No Added Sugar had generated plenty of patient interest.

She said: "Cubicles are boring if there is nothing to look at when you're waiting to be seen and treated.

"Adults and children enjoy looking at them.

"Thank you very much to the children - every little helps."

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