YOUNG patients’ hospital stays will be brightened thanks to two mosaics created by children as part of a successful community project.
Eighty-three pupils from seven schools in Harrow came up with the design and produced the mini tiles for the artwork now adorning the walls of Jack’s Place children’s ward at Northwick Park Hospital in Watford Road, Harrow.
The mosaics show two major events from this year, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, and were initiated as part of the 12th anniversary of the Children First Cluster, a partnership of schools in Harrow, which organised the project.
Project leader, Marina Dunford, deputy headteacher at Hatch End High School in Headstone Lane, Harrow, said: “It was a real community project, working with staff and children across the seven schools. We had an artist in residence to coordinate the piece, but the children did the rest.
“I would like to thank the John Lyon’s association whose generosity has meant this project could be funded.”
Children from Hatch End High School, Cedars Manor School, St John’s C of E School, Grimsdyke School, Weald Infants and Junior Schools, and Marlborough School visited the children’s ward on Wednesday last week to present their gift to staff and patients.
They met Dr Ximena Poblete, a consultant paediatrician, who said: “We are delighted to receive this precious gift. Children have made it, children have designed it, and so it is wonderful that children will enjoy it when they are not feeling well and need to be in hospital.
“I would like to say a special thank you to all the children on behalf of the staff, patients and the hospital trust.”
The visiting children who had not seen the final mosaic put together were delighted to see it decorating the walls of the children’s ward and were keen to point out the individual tiles they had created.
Megan Simkins, a pupil at Weald Infant and Nursery School, said: “We made the tiles out of clay and pressed shapes in to decorate them. I think it looks great.”
