Basic. I would like public facilities that are safe and accessible - with grab rails, sound sensitivity considered, and not be expected to share disabled toilets with males! Ella, aged 11
Artwork in the RCPCH Building
We agree with the saying that “a picture tells a thousand words”. Overseen and curated by The Youth Narrative, our youth communications project, we’re using visual arts to educate paediatricians and other visitors to the RCPCH Head Office building about what keeps children and young people healthy, happy and well. If you are an artistic individual aged 5 – 24, or a youth worker with a group of children and young people who’d love to contribute a piece of your art to the RCPCH building, get in touch!
My wish for child health: patchwork quilt
“As part of the RCPCH &Us 10th birthday celebrations, we designed our stand at the Glasgow RCPCH Conference to look back on the past decade, and look ahead to the future. We wanted to create a happy, party atmosphere, and we felt that it isn’t really a party without bunting! But we wanted this to be interactive, rather than just decoration, and to convey a serious point – what paediatricians want for the future of child health.
Having been involved in the RCPCH &Us Building Artworks project since its start in 2024, I have seen how art can be an effective way to get your message across and spark conversation. Using this knowledge, we invited doctors and allied health professionals visiting the exhibition stand to create their own piece of bunting illustrating their wishes for the next ten years in children’s health.
The response was inspiring. Many stayed for twenty minutes or more, taking time away from the busyness of conference to join us in arts and crafts, while talking with young people and parent carers from RCPCH &Us. These conversations were as valuable as the messages on the bunting itself. We heard about doctors who carry small teddies with them to reassure small children, and others who keep up with the latest tv shows in order to connect with teenagers.
While thinking about the future, doctors told us some of the creative ways they already bring empathy, listening and enjoyment into their work. Some key themes came up during the discussions and made their way onto the bunting: safety, equality, and above all – listening and including the child or young person. While huge strides have been made in all these themes, the bunting activity reminded us and the doctors that there is always more to do, with the future offering opportunities for more progress.
Following conference all the individual pieces of bunting were carefully stitched together into a patchwork quilt, now hung in the College building. I first saw the completed piece during a special visit of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, who visited in July to help us celebrate our 10th birthday. Being able to show her the finished quilt, which helped to bring to life the work we and all the brilliant paediatricians do, was a very special feeling. Having the quilt in the College will help visiting healthcare professionals remember the people at the heart of all the important work they do – the children – as well as what they are doing well, and how we can improve in the future.”
By Tatiana, aged 22
RCPCH &Us projects: mixed medium
In the Council Chamber (6th floor) there is a changing exhibition featuring some of the work completed by children and young people attending our projects.
Marble Art
Using marble art techniques combined with black cut out stenciling, a group of young people answered the questions 'What would you like paediatricians to know?'
Do you see me?
Demi aged 19
We’re humans too – complex and more than our conditions.
Tati, aged 21
Talk to me as your patient in words I understand.
Jamie, aged 16
NPDA Youth Communications Project
The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) Youth Communications Project involved almost fifty children and young people plus ten parents/carers who took part in design workshops online and in person across England and Wales.
They looked at what the NPDA does and thought about how to share this information with other children, young people and families. They created an image bank, top tips on communicating audit information, and recorded the views and wishes on diabetes care from children and young people.
Poem written by a parent
What words do you associate with diabetes care?
Communication images made into graphics
Thank you NHS
'Thank you NHS' features some of the pictures drawn by children and young people around the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thank you NHS
Thank you NHS
To all the medical practitioners…
My wish for child health: fingerprint inks
We’ve toured the UK talking to children and young people about what they’d like to see change in terms of child health. Using ink finger paints they created group pictures and individually shared their thoughts and ideas for improving child health. These pictures will be located in the central stairwell of RCPCH.
This fingerprint picture was created by children & young people attending a Health Influence and Innovation Lab in Cardiff. Young people from around Wales were invited to share their priorities for children & young people’s health to feed into RCPCH policy briefings for the Senedd ahead of the election.
Children and young people in Wales.
My wish for child health is...
To be listened to and have my opinion respected. Also to have my mental health taken into account. Just because I look happy doesn't mean I always feel that way. Imogen, aged 12
Equality for all regardless of sex, age, gender, ability, sexuality or skin colour. Jessica, aged 13
For young people to feel heard around their physical and mental health concerns, and to have them taken seriously. Rebecca, aged 23
For children to be heard and understood. Courtney, aged 17.
Just to be listened to. Osian, aged 13
Improved services that understand and see me as a person, rather than as just my disability. Charlotte, aged 18
For the improvement of mental health services and communication in health gender dysphoria care. Hope, aged 16
This fingerprint picture was created by children and young people attending our Influence and Innovation Lab in Glasgow. Young people from around Scotland were invited to share their priorities for children & young ‘s health to feed into RCPCH policy briefings ahead of the next election.
Children & Young People in Scotland.
My wish for child health is...
For mental health services to be increased in areas that are rural, and for breakfast clubs to be in every school for children who need them. Evelyn, aged 15
For young people to receive better education on the dangers of substance misuse and self harm. Ruby, aged 14
For free gym memberships for children and young people up to the age of 16, so that they can more easily stay fit and healthy. Sarah, aged 15
For all young people to be able to access the gender affirming care they need. Skye, aged 17
That every young person can access comprehensive and tailored health support when they need it and without having to fight to have their problems taken seriously, or sit on lengthy waiting lists. Gemma, aged 17
For more families to engage in their children's wellbeing, and bringing positivity and happiness to their communities. Carolina, aged 15
For increased access to facilities such as sport, music and art to help prevent mental health issues from developing in children and young people. Declan, aged 15
For every child to be able to get the support they need - no matter their circumstances. Alexander, aged 16
For better education on the negatives of smoking, especially vaping, to be taught much earlier and in more detail in school. Daniel, aged 15
For there to be more access to sport and leisure activities outside of school hours. Molly, aged 15
For all children to have access to mental health support when they need it. Leigh, aged 15
This fingerprint picture was created by children and young people across England who attended one of our many summer activities this year – from learning how to write compelling articles for medical journals with Professor Will, to deep discussions with CEO Ian on how to make the College’s work more accessible to them, and sessions investigating the future of the NHS, and making Podcasts on healthcare topics close to them.
Children & Young People in England
My wish for child health is...
Equality and equity in provision of healthcare so age gaps and postcode lotteries don’t exist. Demi, aged 20
To have better transition between paediatric care and adult care. Jack, aged 20
For children to feel valid about their emotions and that they deserve someone to talk to. They should not let their illness define who they truly are as a person. Gwen, aged 13
For no one to feel isolated or confused by their condition. Ewan, aged 17
That healthcare teams give children the opportunity to express how they feel, in a less clinical environment. Sasha, aged 22
That there is wider support and more available for the wider and supporting area. Just listen to how they feel. Amelia, aged 20
To be seen as an individual, not just as a number. Amelia, aged 17
To have better awareness of different conditions, treating young people with the equity they deserve. Ellie, aged 18
To be heard, understood, and most importantly, seen, for more than my illnesses. Amanda, aged 17