We exist to support children and young people living with chronic and physical health conditions that affect their mental health. Since Teapot Trust was set up in November 2010, over 13,000 individuals have been supported.

We work throughout the UK with hospitals – from Inverness to Southampton and Liverpool to Newcastle – and with community-based partners as a means of widening access to our services. We also deliver art therapy online.

Our art therapists are fully qualified and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Association of Art Therapy.

 

Referrals

Referrals usually come from pediatric clinicians, other children’s health charities, young patient advocacy groups, community health workers, and others. We also take self-referrals from families.

Our art therapy is funded through our fundraising work. 

 

How art therapy is delivered

Since the March 2020 lockdown, when we paused our Open Groups (drop-ins) in hospitals to protect those with weakened immunity, our art therapy has mainly been delivered online (or in-person as necessary with appropriate safety measures) via the following methods which were developed in response to need. Each model usually runs in blocks of one hour per week over 8-12 weeks:

• One-to-one art psychotherapy
• Condition-specific art therapy small groups
• Family art therapy for those under great strain

 

In the calendar year 2021, we supported 421 children and young people with a depth of impact not seen previously – such is the effect of the pandemic on their anxiety levels. This equates to 2996 hours of art therapy and shows growth on the previous year despite the challenges of the pandemic.

 

 

Details of the Outcomes, Evaluation and Impact, are set-out here.