Thanks to £12,500 of funding from Artswork, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Youth Forum is looking for a creative practitioner to help them transform an outside space into a garden that young people can enjoy when staying on the Children’s Ward at St Mary’s Hospital. The commission is part of Artwork’s Young Cultural Changemakers programme which empowers young people on the Isle of Wight and in 4 other areas across the South East to lead on significant creative projects in their local area, transforming their lives and those of their neighbours. Isle of Wight creatives have until 27th November to apply. To enable the project to go ahead, volunteers from Isle of Wight Rotary are currently raising funds to clear the space and fit new decking by the end of the year, so that the young people and the creative they appoint can transform the garden between January and March 2024. The Youth Forum – a group of 14- to 18-year-olds who advocate for children and young people who use the hospital – worked with artist Polly Zarnardi, using collage to develop the creative brief; exploring how the space could be used to meet the needs of a wide range of young people, in terms of function, accessibility, sensory considerations and aesthetics. Young patients at the hospital have also contributed their ideas. Their priorities include creating a multifunctional garden – sometimes it will be used as a quiet space to ‘get away from it all’, sometimes for socialising, sometimes for fun and games. It needs to be accessible for users of mobility aids and should include sensory spaces. The young people favour a nature-inspired aesthetic. 
Becky Hepworth, Matron for Children and Young People at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, says:
“The benefits of having an outdoor space for a child or young person when they are feeling unwell is huge. If you are admitted to hospital, even for a short period of time, fresh air and a space to enjoy some time out from the hustle and bustle of a busy ward environment, is so valuable to wellbeing. “Having a therapeutic area for young people to spend time, alone or with others is going to make a big difference for our patients in their recovery,”
Isle of Wight Rotary has been involved with maintaining the garden for the past decade, with an initial steam railway-inspired refurbishment completed in memory of James Sparks. Rob Adams, Assistant Governor, Isle of Wight Rotary, says:
“Just before the pandemic, an extension was added to the Ward which meant we had clearing to do which was stopped because of COVID restrictions. We have now recommenced the maintenance of the garden and are launching a major fundraising drive to provide all-weather composite decking, as requested by the Children’s Ward, to allow wheelchair access.”
The full brief for creatives wishing to apply for the commission is available here and applications must be received by 10:00 on Monday 27th November 2023. Shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the young people at a Dragons’ Den-style event on Thursday 7th December 2023, between 18:00-20:00. Anyone wishing to contribute to Isle of Wight Rotary’s fundraising for the garden can do so at https://www.isleofwightrotary.org/donate.
