Working with local communities to support the development of Cambridge Children's Hospital
As we continue to develop our plans for the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England, it's important we listen to children, young people, parents and carers from all over the region to better understand their physical and mental healthcare experiences. This is key to the success of Cambridge Children's Hospital.
How are we doing this?
We aim to work closely with local people who know their local areas best and are trusted within their communities. Our ambitious regional engagement plan has a a three-pronged approach:
- Join large-scale events to share information about our vision and plans and have conversations with people of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences
- Run targeted bespoke workshops within local communities about specific healthcare issues that affect them
- Work with third sector organisations to connect with groups who may find our project less accessible, due to their cultural background, their spoken language, or their family commitments
First stop: Luton.
During Spring 2023, we ran a series of engagement activities in Luton, finishing with an amazing day at Luton International Carnival. Luton is a vibrant town with many cultures, faiths and languages. It's also an area that faces significant inequalities when it comes to healthcare.
Our team in Luton
Jo
Jo Hudson-Lett is a creative consultant working in Bedfordshire and knows Luton, and its communities, like the back of her hand. She worked with us from start to finish. Using her local knowledge, Jo talked to us about how to make our presence at carnival accessible, impactful and welcoming. A mum of two, Jo understands and believes in the children's hospital vision, having cared for her son, whose physical health problems led to mental health challenges.
Klaudia
Originally from Poland, Klaudia Kulakiewicz has lived in Luton for 18 years, moving to the town at the age of six. As a freelance artist, Klaudia has worked on most local festivals and events. She joined us at Luton Sixth Form College to gain inspiration for the Cambridge Children's Hospital carnival costumes. Using the students' ideas, she worked on the costumes, from concept to completion.
Hadia
Eighteen-year-old Hadia is a member of Cambridge Children's Press Pack. As our Luton young ambassador, she advised us on how we could best engage with local communities and young people in a way that would feel relevant and interesting. She came up with the idea of a workshop at Luton Sixth Form college and helped us with the questions and themes. We were delighted when she put herself forward to be our Carnival Queen!
"The best way to engage with local people is to work with a local person. It’ll make things so much easier. When people realise your organisation is working with someone they know, they're going to think 'That must be a good thing! I heard nothing but praise and people wanting to know more about the Cambridge Children's Hospital project."
Jo Hudson-Lett, Creative Consultant, Luton
Inspiration through conversation
Our aim with Luton Carnival was far broader than carnival itself. We wanted our costumes to reflect the ideas of local teenagers about what good mental health might look like. We ran a workshop and a drop-in session at Luton Sixth Form College asking students about perceptions of mental health in different communities and cultures. The young people were amazing!
Students at Luton Sixth Form College joined our workshop about mental health
Students at Luton Sixth Form College joined our workshop about mental health
A student drew a circle representing the 'cycle' of good and bad mental health. This became the inspiration for the huge hoop worn by the Carnival Queen.
A student drew a circle representing the 'cycle' of good and bad mental health. This became the inspiration for the huge hoop worn by the Carnival Queen.
Jo and Klaudia helped facilitate the mental health workshop, listening out for ideas for the carnival costume.
Jo and Klaudia helped facilitate the mental health workshop, listening out for ideas for the carnival costume.
Pat Latimer, who teaches Health and Social Care, joined the workshop, but also took part in carnival with us
Pat Latimer, who teaches Health and Social Care, joined the workshop, but also took part in carnival with us
The students really understood the vision of Cambridge Children's Hospital, to treat mental and physical health together.
The students really understood the vision of Cambridge Children's Hospital, to treat mental and physical health together.
The students had lots of ideas about perceptions of mental health across different generations in their local communities
The students had lots of ideas about perceptions of mental health across different generations in their local communities
We are delighted the students joined our workshop and hope to work with them again in future
We are delighted the students joined our workshop and hope to work with them again in future
A message from Hadia, our young ambassador in Luton
Hi, I’m Hadia! I'm 18.
The Cambridge Children’s Hospital project is important to me as I believe that every young person should have access to the best facilities, that provide holistic care around both mental and physical health.
The new hospital will be vital for Bedfordshire, as this diverse county is underrepresented by regional projects around mental health.
There are many diverse communities in Bedfordshire, all of which have varying views around mental health and its effects. As someone from the South Asian community, it is clear to me that due to the stigma around mental health and the lack of education around this topic, many people are scared and reluctant to open up and seek help on their mental health, especially from their families. I believe that the same applies to many other communities.
The design and ideas behind the carnival costumes started in workshops at Luton Sixth Form College, where many ideas and discussions around the importance of mental health happened. I heard excellent points on how mental health is viewed in different age groups, what shapes and colours represent mental health, and what materials would be best suited for the costumes.
We were able to discuss the stigma around mental health and bring forwards ideas that could help change this. I think Cambridge Children’s Hospital will allow diverse minority groups in this region to be engaged on the importance of mental and physical health. I believe the new hospital will really make a difference.
Being Carnival Queen was equally exciting as it was nerve wracking. It was something completely out of my comfort zone.
I guess that’s why I wanted to volunteer for it, as it allowed me to gain new and fun experiences. Looking back, I am glad I chose to take that step, as the parade and wearing the costume was extremely fun and enjoyable.
We walked around Luton Town Centre in our costumes, dancing and vibing, which was really memorable. In my opinion, one of the best part of Luton Carnival was being asked to appear in many pictures with children and parents who were viewing the parade. I could see how happy and amazed they were looking at our costumes, and how many of them understood our message around the importance looking after your mental health.
My reflections on Luton Carnival, by Freya, age 17
Freya, 17, from Cambridge Children's Press Pack, was excited to join us at Carnival, taking part in the parade and helping at our stand
Freya, 17, from Cambridge Children's Press Pack, was excited to join us at Carnival, taking part in the parade and helping at our stand
Luton International Carnival is the town’s biggest family event. It was also the first large-scale public event Cambridge Children’s Hospital had ever attended outside Cambridgeshire. To make it happen, we worked with local creatives and the amazing team at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts.
Our art activity was very popular
Our art activity was very popular
Hundreds of people attended our marquee and art activity. Adults learnt about the new regional hospital, while children focused on the joy of colourful crafts.
The atmosphere of the parade was incredible. The large, colourful, eye-catching costumes brought warmth and optimism to the crowd.
This was an extremely important event for us, as Cambridge Children’s Hospital will be the first specialist children’s hospital for the East of England, connecting with local hospitals and healthcare services. It’s important people around the region know who we are and the difference we will make.
To make sure we could reach even more of the community, the project team also took part in the parade, wearing costumes inspired by sunflowers, a universal symbol of hope and peace.
Freya and Hadia in their carnival costumes
Freya and Hadia in their carnival costumes
Meeting the young children and families of Luton was amazing, seeing first hand how the next generation would benefit from the hospital plans. Having been a young person who's used health services, this gave me hope that every child will have access to proper joined up medical treatment for their mental and physical health, and a peaceful childhood.
Freya and Hadia with some of the Cambridge Children's Hospital team and creative consultant, Jo
Freya and Hadia with some of the Cambridge Children's Hospital team and creative consultant, Jo
Where do we go from here?
Engaging with people in Luton and Bedfordshire doesn't stop with Carnival. Through our conversations with local people, we know that it's important we keep them updated on how the new hospital is progressing and what it means for families. We will be back!
Our aim is to get out and about across the East of England over the next three years. If you have an event that you'd like to tell us about, why not get in touch cambridgechildrens@cpft.nhs.uk
We look forward to meeting you soon!
A little boy wearing a Cambridge Children's Hospital t-shirt!
A little boy wearing a Cambridge Children's Hospital t-shirt!
A photo gallery of Luton Carnival 2023
Hadia had a special backpack made so she could carry her huge costume
Hadia had a special backpack made so she could carry her huge costume
Hadia had a number of fittings to make sure her costume was just right!
Hadia had a number of fittings to make sure her costume was just right!
Klaudia came up with the idea of a sunflower tabard that could be worn by others in the parade
Klaudia came up with the idea of a sunflower tabard that could be worn by others in the parade
There were an awful lot of petals, leaves and musical notes to make for our costumes!
There were an awful lot of petals, leaves and musical notes to make for our costumes!
The fantastic team at UK Centre for Carnival Arts worked with us from the very start of our Luton journey. Thank you Clary, Janet and Claudette!
The fantastic team at UK Centre for Carnival Arts worked with us from the very start of our Luton journey. Thank you Clary, Janet and Claudette!
Hadia gluing seeds onto a sunflower
Hadia gluing seeds onto a sunflower
Local families helped make our costumes
Local families helped make our costumes
We made dozens of sticks of glittery lavender
We made dozens of sticks of glittery lavender
Emma and her daughter Chloe made a LOT of petals!
Emma and her daughter Chloe made a LOT of petals!
We are grateful to our local families from the Visually Impaired People's Social club - our VIPs!
We are grateful to our local families from the Visually Impaired People's Social club - our VIPs!
Ines, 12, was a carnival superstar!
Ines, 12, was a carnival superstar!
Our troupe wore eye-catching sunflower costumes
Our troupe wore eye-catching sunflower costumes
Freya and Hadia were interviewed by ITV Anglia
Freya and Hadia were interviewed by ITV Anglia
We danced for hours!
We danced for hours!
Our lead nurse Vicky Amiss-Smith (r) with her daughter, Evie, who joined us in the parade
Our lead nurse Vicky Amiss-Smith (r) with her daughter, Evie, who joined us in the parade
Thousands of people gathered to watch the parade
Thousands of people gathered to watch the parade
Our art activity attracted dozens of children and families!
Our art activity attracted dozens of children and families!
Sarah, Rosie and Jess from the Cambridge Children's Hospital communications team
Sarah, Rosie and Jess from the Cambridge Children's Hospital communications team
Architects Rhys and Negar talked to people about the hospital designs and shared information about the project. They also showed off our model of Cambridge Children's Hospital
Architects Rhys and Negar talked to people about the hospital designs and shared information about the project. They also showed off our model of Cambridge Children's Hospital
These little girls really enjoyed making beautiful creations in our arts marquee
These little girls really enjoyed making beautiful creations in our arts marquee
Our marquees in St George's Square had brightly coloured wraparound banners that said 'Welcome' in 12 different languages.
Our marquees in St George's Square had brightly coloured wraparound banners that said 'Welcome' in 12 different languages.
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