Art helps Oxenhope children and Manorlands hospice patients bond (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Oxenhope Primary School pupils working with Sue Ryder home patients

9:50am Wednesday 22nd June 2011 in Oxenhope By Claire Lomax

Schoolchildren have been working in partnership with a local hospice to produce a piece of artwork as part of a project to promote inter-generational communication.

Year four and five pupils from Oxenhope Primary School have been visiting Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice since May to take part in a series of art sessions alongside patients attending the day therapy unit and volunteers.

The class of 32 will contribute to a collage of Stanbury moorland.

Project lead Sikander Hussain said: “Both organisations share common values such as caring, respect and honesty.

“The school project is an excellent demonstration of three different generations underpinning these values and working together towards a common goal.”

Sue Ryder is a health and social care charity which delivers end of life and long-term care to people living with cancer and non-cancer conditions including heart failure, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis and dementia.

Patients attending the day therapy unit are those who do not require in-patient care. They are offered a programme of medical and nursing treatments as well as a programme of activities and complementary therapies.

The school project has provided an opportunity for the hospice to promote inter-generational work and communication between the schoolchildren and the hospice day therapy patients using art as a common theme.

• Read the full story Wednesday’s T&A