Dr Laura N Young MBE Board Member and Founder Expand Laura is a pioneer in art therapy and arts for wellbeing services for children and young people in hospitals. With her husband John, Laura founded Teapot Trust in 2010 to redress the balance in care for children with hidden and/or complex rheumatology conditions by providing art therapy to support their mental wellbeing. Through Laura’s tenacity and the hard work of the Teapot Trust team this ground-breaking work has helped put art and creativity on the mental health agenda, the importance of which has been recognised by a number of prestigious awards. Since 2018, Laura has also held a Trustee position at National Museums Scotland, which she enjoys as it reminds her of her first job when she trained at the Science Museum, after University. She was on the Court of Queen Margaret University for 3 years, 2016 – 2019. She has attended Downing Street on three occasions: as a social entrepreneur, for International Women’s Day and as a significant NHS partner for an [email protected] meeting. Offering a trusted, independent viewpoint, Laura is also an ILM7 qualified Executive Coach and member of the Association of Coaching. She enables Founders and CEOs to have dedicated time for strategic thinking and problem solving. She is passionate about wellbeing and interested in what makes an organisation and its people resilient. As a speaker, her focus is on founding charities, the lived experience of chronic conditions, coping with grief and on what makes us resilient and happy. She is a Guild Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She received an Honorary Doctorate from Queen Margaret University in 2015, and in 2016, was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to children with health conditions. Laura is also a Mental Health First Aider.
Erin Young Sessional Art Therapist Expand I started working for the Teapot Trust in Feb 2020, to provide Art Therapy at the Great North Children's Hospital. The post was to work within the Rheumatology department and with Bridges School which is in the hospital. When the lockdown started about a month later, we moved to working online. Since then, I have provided 1-1 and Dyadic Art Therapy to young people and their parents over an online video platform. It's been a privilege to work with the young people and see their confidence grow in each session. I qualified and registered as an Art Therapist in June 2019 with an MSc with distinction in Art Psychotherapy from Queen Margaret University. Since then, I have worked as a Resilience Coach with adults and in an NHS Trust in a CAMHS team. Currently I work as an Art Therapist for various therapeutic charities including the Teapot Trust. Outside of work I like to do different types of folk dancing and Scottish dancing. I love going on walks and seeing how each season changes the environment.
Sarah Randell Chief Executive Expand Teapot Trust is led by CEO, Sarah Randell, supported by a committed staff team of 6 (5.11 FTE), 16 professionally qualified and registered art therapists retained on a self-employed basis (5 FTE) and 7 trustees who bring a rich mix of skills and experience. In post since May 2019, Sarah is far-sighted strategically and relational in her approach. She has empowered staff, worked to achieve a sustainable model for Teapot Trust and ensure equitable access to the charity’s art therapy services. Now, the focus is growth. Sarah previously held Development Director and Head of Fundraising roles with a national charity, a respected theatre, and a large school. She was also Deputy Director of a national membership organisation where her focus was helping member charities prepare to pass OSCR's charity/public benefit test. Outside work, Sarah loves creative activities and being outdoors – particularly on beaches. [email protected] Office: 0131 273 4340 Mobile: 07922 423494
Caitlin Meagher Supporter Engagement Manager Expand Caitlin joined Team Teapot in March 2018 to increase the charity’s community engagement. Now, she manages supporter relationships while juggling a busy schedule of fundraising campaigns and challenges – encouraging individuals, friendship groups and corporate colleagues to participate. Caitlin is a people person. Her warm and assured style has been praised frequently by supporters and colleagues alike. She enjoys the fast-paced nature of her role, especially interacting with stakeholders and seeing the impact of the charity's work. Her flexible approach and broad skill-set make Caitlin a real asset to the team. She's our tech/digital guru, who took a lead in producing Teapot Trust's Art Therapy At Home resource materials at the start of lockdown, which have been used over 30,000 times by children and families. Before joining Team Teapot, Caitlin worked for the State of New York and helped manage public outreach and engagement for historic sites. Having a BA and MSc in Archaeology, Caitlin enjoys spending her free time travelling and exploring historic places, almost as much as she likes being outdoors hiking, gardening, or trying to keep up with her energetic Sprocker, Willow. [email protected] Office: 0131 273 4340 Mobile: 07394558660
Louise Downing Grants Manager Expand Louise has worked as Teapot Trust’s Grants Officer since May 2018. In this role she takes a lead in researching trusts and foundations, in planning and preparing applications, in managing the funding pipeline, and in producing reports for funders. Working part-time (Monday-Wednesday), Louise juggles her responsibilities with finesse and is supported by Sarah and Heather. From her past experience, Louise brings a strong team approach and valuable insights into organisational operations. She is a qualified trainer and has served as Chair of the Volunteer Management Committee of Radio Lollipop at Edinburgh’s Sick Kids and on the board of trustees at North Edinburgh Arts. Married with a young family, Louise was welcomed back from maternity leave in August 2021 and has quickly re-immersed herself in her role. [email protected] Office: 0131 273 4340 Mobile: 07542030470
Abbie Adamson Research and Administration Assistant Expand Abbie joined Teapot Trust in September 2021 as an Administrative Apprentice. Abbie has a BSc in Public Sociology in which she developed a passion for the exploration of the root causes of social issues and the importance of community engagement. Abbie has experience previously volunteering in administration for third-sector organizations. In her spare time, Abbie enjoys reading a variety of genres and walking her sister's two dogs, Frankie and Hector. [email protected] Office: 0131 273 4340
Claire Howe Business Development Consultant Expand Claire joined Teapot Trust in January 2022 as a Business Development Consultant to support and develop a pipeline of commissioned, income-generating art therapy work for 2022 and beyond. She will also be promoting and selling Teapot Trust art therapy training and resources to art therapists in other health and wellbeing contexts. Claire has recently been Head of Engagement in Scotland for the youth charity, Speakers for Schools and previously, Head of Membership in Scotland for the CSR charity, Business in the Community. Outwith work, Claire loves cooking, animals and exercise. As well as having a son who has just started high school, she has a very needy British Shorthaired cat called Luna! She is a member of a local gym and particularly enjoys yoga, swimming and circuit training. [email protected] Mobile: 07982 259441
Nicola Kennell Art Therapist Expand I started working with Teapot Trust in the autumn of 2014. I really enjoy my work with Teapot Trust, working within the remote areas of Highland in the North of Scotland. Since Covid-19 affected our lives, I have met with children and families online for their sessions, pleased to have been able to stay connected with them during these difficult times. It has been fantastic to be able to reach more families this way as some may live miles from Inverness in rural areas. Helping children, young people and parents to feel supported throughout their journey of ill health, is an important task. My work enables the young people I support to make positive steps in both managing the challenges of their condition and moving forward with their lives. I do this by providing a safe space to explore how people feel, which helps them to make sense of what is happening to them. Over the last 20 years, my work has been about supporting to help individuals to develop confidence, resilience and recover from difficult experiences in creative and therapeutic ways. In 2013 I founded Green Tree Arts Studio a creative hub for people to explore themselves through art and nature as a means of self-expression and personal development. Outside of work I enjoy going on dog walks, being outside in nature and making art.
Do you provide therapy for the whole family? Expand Family art therapy enables families under great strain (who might, for instance, be struggling to accept a child’s diagnosis, be exhausted from constant care-giving and sibling-tensions) for whom the pandemic has exacerbated the pressures they already felt to: articulate feelings in a safe space where they can hear and understand others’ perspectives navigate their health journey together build resilience so that the chronic condition does not define family life
Do you provide therapy online? Expand There was never a possibility of leaving high-risk children, young people and families unsupported during COVID-19. Taking great care not to compromise the professional integrity of our therapy – and highlighting the security protocols we established to minimise risk – we moved our therapy services online, delivered via secure video conferencing. This swift reimagining of service delivery was possible as we were already on the front foot in exploring it for those in rural locations. A new addition, in response to the heightened anxiety and burden felt by families during the pandemic, was family therapy.
Do you provide group therapy? Expand Small peer groups are provided for those with conditions in common. This allows them to feel understood, to see beyond themselves, make supportive friendships, and discover coping tools together.
How many sessions do you run weekly? Expand In 2021, we supported 421 children and young people with art therapy delivered over 2,996 hours in total. Our therapy is usually delivered in blocks of 8-12 weeks (one hour per week) but this has been increasing with levels of anxiety higher due to the pandemic. Averaged over the year, 2,996 hours of therapy is over 62 hours each week. This includes one-to-to-one art therapy, small group art therapy with children and young people who have the same chronic health condition on common (e.g. Juvenile Arthritis, Cystic Fibrosis, Kidney Disease, Diabetes etc.) and family art therapy for families struggling to cope with the impact of the illness.
Are Teapot Trust’s art therapists qualified? Expand We have 16 professionally qualified and registered art therapists who work on a sessional basis. (That means they’re contractors, not staff.) They all have a Masters degree in art therapy and are registered with both the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Association of Art Therapy. Their hours vary with some working with us just a few hours each week and others doing significantly more. So, although we have 16 art therapists, in practice this equates to just 5 full-time equivalent workers.
How can I get support? Expand 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. In order to assess whether and how we can best meet your child’s needs, we ask that you complete this form in order to go through the Assessment Process.
What are the benefits of art therapy? Expand Children and young people who’ve benefitted most from our art therapy have typically wanted to address challenges such as: Worry, anxiety and distress caused by their diagnosis and its treatment Low self-esteem and self-confidence Treatment or needle phobia Requiring support in understanding their condition and its impacts Increasingly, we are supporting the wider family – parents, carers and siblings This list is just an indication and is not a full list of the issues that we can support. In order to assess whether and how we can best meet your child’s needs, we ask that you complete this form in order to go through the Assessment Process.
Are there activities/exercises I can try with my child at home? Expand A suite of original branded wellbeing resource materials is freely available on our website for children and families to use at home – including video tutorials, relaxation exercises, journalling techniques and outdoor activities. No matter the medium, these techniques can help promote positive wellbeing through art.
What is a chronic condition? Expand Chronic conditions are those which in most cases cannot be cured, only controlled, and are often life-long and limiting in terms of quality of life. NHS Wales They include: Juvenile arthritis Diabetes Lupus Cystic Fibrosis Kidney Disease
Where do you provide therapy? Expand We work throughout the UK in hospitals, community settings, and online. From Inverness to Southampton. Wherever the need is greatest.
What is art therapy? Expand Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses image-making to help improve an individual’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. It provides a way to express and process thoughts and feelings that might be difficult for a young child – and those who’ve experienced trauma – to articulate verbally. This helps a child to feel more in control of what’s happening to them and to cope better with the effects of their condition.
Ruth Girvan Chair of Trustees Expand Ruth was unanimously voted Chair of Trustees at the May 2022 trustees meeting. Ruth has lived experience of the challenges of having a child with a long term health condition, JIA, and has experienced first-hand the life-changing impact Teapot Trust can have on children who go through multiple hospital visits, procedures and tests, and their ability to face into their (often invisible) condition. Adding an element of control, in a life where for them, so much is out of their control. Ruth has a passion for Teapot Trust, its ethos, ambition and impact, and is proud to be taking over from the charity founder as Chair, to lead Teapot Trust through the next stage of development and the opportunities ahead as the charity grows from strength to strength. Ruth has spent most of her career in the financial services sector leading people through strategic change with a passion for keeping people at the heart of any new strategic move. Never happier than when outdoors and indulging in her many passions such as open water swimming, cycling, canoeing camping and running and adding more miles to her Mileage Challenge for Teapot Trust to achieve 4k miles in 2022.
John Kennedy Finance Convenor Expand John is a Chartered Accountant with considerable experience working in public practice. He is a partner in Cowan & Partners CA practice in Leith, where he has provided advice and support to a broad range of clients for over 30 years. John is a highly respected general practitioner, and has a particular interest in charity accounts. As an auditor, he took responsibility for a broad range of audits including a number of local and high profile charities. John also has considerable experience as a charity Independent Examiner. John has served as Treasurer and Trustee of a major UK charity and a large Scottish charity as well as a number of local charities. John will retire from business in April 2022. In joining Teapot Trust, he is keen to bring his professional knowledge and experience to the Trustee role, where he will have a particular focus on finance.
Niki Ferguson Art Therapist Expand I started working for the Teapot Trust in the autumn of 2014, initially running open groups in the rheumatology department at the Children’s hospital in Glasgow, providing a creative outlet for children attending the outpatient clinics. I have also provided one-to-one sessions for the Rheumatology department and worked on the children’s oncology ward in Edinburgh. A number of years ago I moved to work on the children’s psychiatric wards, having worked with the under 12’s and currently adolescents. In the past 14 years I have worked in a number of other settings in health, social care and education providing art therapy to children and families and currently work with young offenders in prison. In my spare time, I enjoy being creative, most recently jewellery making and also love roller skating or being outdoors in nature; walking or in my garden.
Jennifer Martin Board Member Expand Jen is a highly experienced communications lead for change programmes at NatWest Group. Often specialising in strategic, regulatory and legal change programmes, Jen is passionate about quality, consistency and using data and insight to guide to the right solutions. Out with the day job, Jen has worked with The Prince’s Trust as a mentor to young people. This is Jen’s first trustee position having decided that now her youngest child has started school, it was time to devote more of herself to charities that will make a difference to people’s lives. Her enthusiasm for Teapot Trust is born from the recognition of how creative therapies can positively affect children and their families through the most trying of times.
Rebecca Young Voices of Invisible Illness Ambassador Expand 20 Tell us about yourself I’m half Icelandic and half Scottish. I have a type of arthritis but that doesn’t define me, that is not who I am. I’m very open, friendly, creative person. I love anything artsy. I’m currently in college finishing my makeup and hair dressing qualification. I used to be a makeup artist working in mac. Then I lost my job because of lockdown. I took a whole new path and started being a community care worker. I love that. It’s totally different to what I was doing at college. I love helping other people which is why I want to do as much as I can by speaking up about my experiences in life and hope it helps someone else. What is it like living with a chronic condition? Since I was young it was always obvious that something wasn’t quite right but as a young person, you’re always told that your joint pains are just ‘growing pains’. I got told the same thing over and over again. At 9 years old it got really bad. If it wasn’t for my mum and the fight she put up for me then I wouldn’t have got the help that I did, but that took until I was 14 to get officially diagnosed. From that I developed a lot of mental health issues because when you’re constantly rejected, constantly not believed you start thinking what’s wrong with me or is it all in my head. The two always go together, which I like to always express to people as well, because when you’re going through physical pain it causes a lot of mental pain as well. Day to day now I am in so much pain, some days more than others. Don’t get me wrong there are always better days and worse days. I’ve burnt myself out a lot of times by being constantly on the go but it’s about finding the happy medium for yourself. At 20 now I’ve found that, but it was one of the worst things I’ve had to go through. What needs to change to support young people? I think if more people can speak up about their chronic illnesses to bring awareness these hidden illnesses, we can educate the general public and then hopefully their will be more understanding for young people going through the daily struggle of living with a chronic illness. How has Teapot Trust supported you? At 14 I thought there was never going to be any positives in my life. I was struggling to walk, I couldn’t get to the toilet on my own, I couldn’t walk down the stairs. I used to very much live in the future, thinking about when maybe things would get better. But you have to focus on the now. Just talking and accepting that was the way that I found my strategies to cope so therapy was a huge thing. Therapy really helped me to open up about how I felt. I used to bottle everything in. I used to think of it as levels and I would get to the top and I would have a breakdown or get really angry if it got too much. I learned through therapy to express myself and talk about it. I tell that to everyone in my life now. That if you talk about it, it will help, however much you don’t want to. It was becoming too much to handle within myself and within my head. When my mental state got better, I saw the difference with my physical because I was able to deal with it better. The two really do go hand in hand. Now I’m walking about, working in care, it was stuff I could have never imagined for myself. It’s the process of learning to accept and find a way that works for you. What would you say to anyone who is considering art therapy? I’m forever happy that I went through the really tough times. I’d come from a session and sleep for 3 hours because I was so drained, but it was all worth it now. The hardest thing is acceptance but once you accept your diagnosis things become a lot more positive.