The Art Voluntary Service Unit opportunity at Sevenoaks inspires students to express their compassion through different artistic media and varied opportunities, from volunteering at Hospice in the Weald to designing and making props for school theatre productions.
Students volunteer at the hospice every week. They collaborate with patients on pieces of art such as ceramics, painting and craft projects. Going to the hospice can seem daunting at first, but by means of these activities, unique bonds are made. One week we made casts of the patients’ hands, which will soon be transformed into pieces of art with fond memories attached.
At school, our latest major project is designing and painting murals for Nexus School in Tonbridge; a school for children with profound, severe and complex needs, many of whom are on the Autistic Spectrum. These murals are sensitively executed to best suit the needs of the pupils.
We also assist in making props for school performances, such as Sweeney Todd (2018) and Great Expectations (2017). As well as the aforementioned projects, every year at Christmas we produce hundreds of cards and decorations to sell for charity at the Christmas Fair.
Sophie Hogan
Spiros Giovas
“We really appreciate the support from your pupils. The patients love their upbeat attitude and the creativity and energy that the students bring with them. The students encourage the patients to try new things and embrace new ideas, this can bring a multitude of benefits to the patents including a sense of purpose and achievement.”
Julie Annis, Creative Arts Assistant, Hospice in the Weald
