Children get creative thanks to WHSmith

A big thank you to WHSmith for kindly donating £1,000.00 worth of arts and crafts to the children’s wards at Derriford Hospital.

The donation included a fantastic range of items, including colouring books, paints, sticker books, jigsaws, jewellery making sets, ‘build your own’ kits and much more and catered for boys and girls of various ages.

Anita Dykes, Matron for Paediatrics, said: “We are thrilled that WHSmith chose Derriford Hospital to make this wonderful donation.

“Being in hospital can be boring at times and this donation will help greatly to keep our young people occupied and aid their recovery. It is a fantastic initiative and one which will be used and enjoyed by many of our patients and their families.”

Blanche Hodgson, Manager of the WHSmith store in Derriford Hospital, said: “We’re really excited to have the opportunity to support our local hospital and help to enhance the art and craft provision for patients and staff.  It’s a great way for the staff at WHSmith to get involved with the local community.”

The WHSmith Trust is an independent charity that aims to promote education, literacy and support the local communities, in which WHSmith staff and customers live and work.

Research has shown that art and crafts activities can have significant health benefits for patient’s young and old, enhancing patient care and aiding recovery.

For the past three years, the WHSmith Trust has donated thousands of books and craft kits to 30 hospitals across the UK, to supplement existing patient resources, or to create new libraries, both for children and adults.