Evidence-based evaluation of Teapot Trust’s art therapy with children and young people is key to understanding its impact, extending its reach, ensuring fair access, and leveraging public funding. This is important 'legacy' work for the charity. Crucially it also adds to the research that exists in this field and addresses gaps. 

Below are details of Teapot Trust's collaborative research projects, past and present.

GAIN project at Great North Children's Hospital (2025)

Work is live on a stage 2 project at Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle, that builds on the research, below. It is again being led by Dr Simon Hackett, with oversight from Dr Patricia Watts (Teapot Trust Clinical Lead) and group art therapy provided by Teapot Trust art therapist, Megan Keane. Further details will be shared here as progress is made.  

Here is a child-friendly report on the work with teens and primary school aged children.

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University (2022-2024)         

Dr Simon Hackett (Newcastle University) and Dr Sharmila Jandial (Great North Children’s Hospital) led a collaborative research project, for which Teapot Trust was a key partner. The work looked at group art-psychotherapy to address anxiety and depression in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). The project was jointly funded by the hospital charity and Teapot Trust. Recognising that families have expertise through their lived experience, the work empowered and equipped parents to enable their children to gain the most from their art therapy journeys.

Historic Service Review of art therapy provided and funded by Teapot Trust in Paediatric Rheumatology departments at Glasgow and Edinburgh Children's Hospitals (2019)                           

In September 2019, a report was finalised following a major historic review of art therapy provided and funded by Teapot Trust in Paediatric Rheumatology departments at Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. The review was conducted and the report prepared, in partnership, by Teapot Trust art therapists, Emily Farrugia and Patricia Watts, with clinicians, Joyce Davidson and Jo Walsh. It was important to dedicate time and resources to the review to understand how and why art therapy helps young patients and what role clinical environments can play in the efficacy of treatment. Evidence based research is vital for the sustainability of the service within NHS hospitals as well as equity of access.

92% of the children and young people supported said it helped them to feel better.

The full report is available to read here and a summary of key findings is shown below.

Key findings:

• Half of the patients referred to art therapy have a diagnosis of JIA (Juvenile Arthritis) which reflects the clinical population
• High numbers of patients are being treated with Methotrexate
• The reason cited for the majority of referrals for art therapy was to help patients cope with their diagnosis or the emotional impact of their condition and/or treatment.
• Patient reported outcomes show significant improvements over the course of treatment for patients in their social and emotional wellbeing.
• The results also showed the service is well used by referring clinicians as an appropriate psychological support for children and young people with rheumatic diseases.
• Patient feedback was positive at both sites – over a third felt that art therapy had increased their confidence and they were more able to share feelings with others while 92% said it helped them to feel better about their diagnosis and its effects.
• Art therapists based at both hospitals were embedded within paediatric rheumatology teams.
• The dual-site service review enabled clinicians to identify differences and similarities between the RHSC, Edinburgh and RHC, Glasgow, providing valuable information and recommendations on how to effectively embed art therapy within different hospitals.

Dr Patricia Watts is Teapot Trust's Clinical Lead with oversight of research and the development of new work.