GOSH mentoring programme launches!
Dame Kelly Holmes Trust launches new mentoring programme at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Dame Kelly Holmes Trust is delighted to announce its new partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), as the organisations launch their one-to-one mentoring programme at the hospital, putting world class athlete mentors shoulder to shoulder with children and young people being treated for serious illnesses at the hospital. To mark the launch, athlete mentor and former England national badminton champion, Su Miller, visited GOSH on 25th April to meet some of the patients and the team at the hospital.
The programme, which follows on from the Trust’s inaugural hospital-based delivery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, supports young people on their journey to recovery during or following their time spent in hospital for a range of conditions. Funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH charity), the programme will support 100 young people and their families over the next year, across the hospital’s cancer and bone marrow transplant, rheumatology, PAMHS and respiratory departments. The programme’s first participants have begun their sessions, with England Cerebral Palsy Football’s Harry Baker and his first mentee kicking off sessions in April.
Designed to use personal, social and emotional development practices to increase the participants’ confidence, self-esteem and resilience, the sessions are delivered online to be accessible from hospital and during recovery. With a focus on encouraging and motivating young people to become more active during their hospital stay, and once they return home, participants chose an athlete mentor they best relate to and offer the opportunity to focus on the future after illness. Athletes have proven leadership qualities, a positive mind-set and effective communications skills. They know how to achieve their goals and apply resilience during the highs and lows of competitive sport and life, and many have suffered setbacks which the patients can relate to. The Trust’s athlete mentors, who have all competed at elite level, offer encouragement, support and importantly, someone to talk to who is not part of their healthcare plan - considered extremely valuable by many of the young people.
Designed to increase the participants’ confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
Sessions focus on encouraging and motivating young people to become more active during their hospital stay, and once they return home.
Lucy Waller, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist said:
“We know that being active makes a massive difference to children’s health and their recovery. It is really exciting to be working with Dame Kelly Holmes Trust so children can be partnered with athletes and be inspired and motivated during their treatment and to be more active. This will make a big difference to their experience of being in hospital and receiving treatment, and aid recovery.”
Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s Interim CEO Martin Talbot said;
“We’re delighted to be able to start delivery on this programme. We understand the challenges faced by young people whose lives have been affected by periods of time in hospital and it’s a privilege for us and our athlete mentors to support Great Ormond Street Hospital’s patients on their road to recovery.”
The programme aims to reach 100 young people over the course of the next year.