This project builds on the success of our original Little Artists programme which engaged families in the design and creation of an artistic resource pack.
This series of sessions was run in collaboration with the local NHS LCO (Local Care Organisation) with refugee and asylum seeking families. Data suggests that people from these backgrounds are more likely to resort to Urgent Care for their medical needs, rather than turning to non-urgent services such as 111 and their local GP practice which in turn can negatively impact the care these families receive.
During this project we worked with families to build a picture of how and why they use Urgent Care.
Between 4th October to 13th December 2022 our Little Artists programme delivered 9 sessions with 9 families (13 children and 9 adults). The group explored all areas of the the UK health care system including:
- Self-care and pharmacies through music and dance
- GPs through gardening and food
- NHS 111 and Minor Injuries through storytelling
- A&E and 999 through art and play
The group contributed to a creative map that looked at different services and job roles, building knowledge and aspirations.
We found that the families attending had a good knowledge of the health care system and felt very confident with it. The feedback was that the information the NHS provides is already very clear and they did not think another guide was needed.
We therefore hope to confirm this with more families in the new year and are building connections with services and hotels that house refugees and asylum seekers to conduct creative consultation and disseminate information.
The output for this project may therefore be a creative play guide for services and schools to use to educate young children about the UK health services and ensure that families from disadvantaged backgrounds are aware of their rights and entitlement to get help as well as the correct channels to access and when.
Our thanks to Action Together for funding some of the sessions and to our main funder for this project, One Rochdale Health & Care.