NEWS

27 April 2013  

On Tuesday 23rd April, Lollipop volunteers in Bristol, UK took part in a special jewellery workshop to learn how to create a range of crafty trinkets that can be made with the patients visiting the hospital.

The short course, attended by volunteers from all evenings of the week, saw the Lollipoppers master the art of creating earrings, key rings and necklaces from a range of materials. By learning how to make these pieces from scratch, the Bristol volunteers will now be able to use the skills to help hospital visitors make their own pieces to share or keep.

The workshop was hosted by local jewellery maker Kim Thomson from Kim Thomson Design, who specialises in making trinkets from a variety of materials, ranging from reclaimed plastics to sweetie wrappers. Kim led the workshop in a laid back manner that allowed all attendees to be creative in their designs and even take home a few pieces of their own.

Every volunteer who attended the workshop has pledged to share their new talents with fellow volunteers to ensure jewellery making is a key component of Radio Lollipop’s offering.

The jewellery session, organised by Victoria Smith, Bristol Radio Lollipop Play Coordinator, even proved to be a great social occasion, allowing volunteers from across the week to mingle with one another. Speaking of the event, Victoria said ‘tonight’s workshop has given our vollies the confidence to make a variety of things with both hospital patients and other members of our team. The pieces we have learnt to make will appeal to all age ranges including adolescent patients, who are often the most tricky to provide suitable activities for. Everyone really enjoyed the experience and loved the jewellery that they got take home with them’.

Lizzie Simon, a Monday night volunteer who took part in the workshop, said “by learning to make jewellery we can in turn help kids in the Bristol Children’s Hospital use their hands to get creative and share their skills with their friends and family.”

The Bristol volunteers cannot wait to get out onto the wards and prove that all that glitters does not have to be gold.