Students Design Therapeutic Colouring Book for Hospital Patients

Students from our Art and Design course recently teamed up with the Frimley Health Trust to create therapeutic colouring books for hospital patients.

Students Amy, Cara, Catherine, Emily, Jay, Jess, Kerl, Lucy, Molly and Viktoria with Frimley Park Hospital Staff

The year-long project was inspired by a hospital Matron who had requested colouring books for their patients. Arts Manager at Frimley Health, Emma Carr, contacted the College with a brief, followed by presentations and consultations for the project. In total, students submitted 14 designs in a range of contrasting styles. The book has now been published by the Frimley Health Charity to be enjoyed by patients at hospitals across the trust.

Arts Manager Emma Carr commented: “The colouring books have already been used in the dementia wards by the activity nurses and are proving to give the patients a form of communication, engagement and grounding.  Elderly care, cancer and pre-operative wards have been issued so far with more to now be rolled out.”

The students involved were invited to meet Phillipa Hooton, the Head of Nursing Medicine at Frimley Park Hospital, where they each received a copy of the book. In return, the students each donated a pack of pens. 

Art and Design Lecturers Jane Habgood and Charlie Gould commented that the project helped to focus students, and that they were proud to be part of this amazing project. Both the Trust and the College hope to continue the project in the future.

Those interested in finding out more about our range of Art and Design courses can view our pages for School Leavers here.

The Frimley Health Trust are looking for a sponsor to cover the cost of printing the colouring books and the supply of colouring pens and pencils for patients. The name or logo of the sponsor can be added to the books to recognise their support.