Share. Learn. Grow.
What is it like to be part of H2H Buddy Drama Project?
"I am a H2H buddy which means I have a buddy student nurse, we've acted together, helped to run lessons for student teachers together"
"Before I was a buddy, I was frightened of nurses. Now I like nurses! It was brilliant!"
"I am a student nurse...I used to be nervous about working with people with learning disabilities but now I feel confident and know I can communicate effectively with them when I am out in practice"
"I have loved being able to learn, not just from my buddy but from the other student nurses, who are more experienced in working with people with learning disabilities...we can all learn together"
Who, what and why?
We are student nurses from the Kingston University School of Nursing, and we would love your support in developing our Toc H Buddy Drama Project, which is part of the Heritage2Health (H2H) collaborative initiative. We are passionate about engaging communities to improve health and wellbeing and H2H aims to facilitate experiences for vulnerable people who feel socially isolated. People with learning disabilities in particular can often face barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare services and healthcare professionals often struggle to understand their needs. In order to tackle this, our student nurses work collaboratively throughout the year on a programme of unique 'buddy' projects.
Our current project will bring us and pupils from St Phillips Special Needs School, Chessington together through a series of workshops and rehearsals to co-create a drama production. Within these workshops, both student nurses and people with learning disabilities will have the opportunity to develop team facilitation and leadership skills in a fun, enabling and collaborative environment.
Our production's focus will celebrate 200 years of nursing through sharing the story of the First World War nurse Miss Alison Macfie, who as a founding member developed the role of women in Toc H. The workshops will give us the opportunity to help develop the representation of her story of working with local communities to meet unmet need and make a difference in the world. We plan to showcase our Buddy Toc-H Production on Friday 15th May at the 2020 International Day of the Nurse and Midwife event at Kingston University. Please help us raise £1500 to cover our costs: workshop facilitation, production, costumes and props. If we raise £750 the university will double the amount!!
Our previous buddy projects have offered invaluable experience in learning from each other. Student nurses involved state they were now confident in communicating with and advocating for people with learning disabilities and complex disabilities in clinical settings, while young people state they are less fearful of nurses and healthcare settings.
We have some fab rewards to thank everyone who donates, whatever the amount you give. Please help us ensure healthcare works for all and support our project.
Spread the word
Part of the solution to social isolation involves reaching out. So please reach out and share this project with anyone who might want to support us - on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, by email, telephone, in a chat over the fence or on your blog. Please give what you can - social media contact, a penny, a pound. Your support means a lot to us. Thank you very much!
Find out more about us
Check out our website: www.heritage2health.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @h2hbuddies
Find us on Facebook: Heritage2Health
