Dr Laura N Young MBE Nominated for The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year
I’m extremely delighted to be nominated for The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year and to be recognised in this way
East Lothian-based charity co-founder Dr Laura N Young MBE has received a nomination for The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year 2016. The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year is an exciting part of Glasgow’s history stretching nearly 54 years and celebrates the achievements of outstanding women.
The Teapot Trust was founded by Laura and Dr John Young in 2010 after seeing the gaps in the care of their daughter Verity, who suffered from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE Lupus) and also cancer before her tragic death at the age of eight, in 2009.
The charity provides art therapists for chronically ill children in hospital, with a particular focus on children suffering from rheumatological conditions. Art therapy can give children an alternative way to communicate their emotions, a distraction from their conditions, or even just a chance to have fun while waiting for appointments and medication.
Today, the Teapot Trust is Scotland’s largest employer of art therapists with 17 art therapists, running 22 projects in 11 towns and cities, from Inverness to the Borders. It has also expanded into England, with two projects running for children at hospitals in London.
Dr Laura Young said, “I have been really touched to have been nominated for The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year award. The Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow was where our daughter Verity was hospitalised a few times as it is the Scottish centre for excellence in SLE Lupus for children. It was being in Glasgow that seeded the idea for the Teapot Trust.
“I vividly remember watching a mother struggling with a kicking and screaming child, trying to carry them into the hospital and every time she put them down they ran back out of the doors. Embarrassed, apologetically the mother said ‘she is just totally fed up with coming here’ and I thought, I am not the only one manhandling my child into the car, who then kicks and screams for the whole journey ... we have to do something to help.
“The Teapot Trust provides a friendly and supportive service to help both children and families. We have grown across Scotland providing art therapy in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Kinross.
“It’s a complete surprise to be nominated and quite unexpected. The therapists are at the core of our work and their expert care keeps us going. I’m extremely delighted to be nominated for The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year and to be recognised in this way.”
Links:
The Teapot Trust: http://www.teapot-trust.org/
The Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year: http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/scotswoman-of-the-...
ENDS
For more information please get in touch with Rhianna Adams at 0131 273 4340 or rhianna@teapot-trust.org .
For alternative press contact, please get in touch with Adam Betteridge at adam@famouspublicity.com or 03333 442 341 , George Murdoch at george@famouspublicity.com or 03333 442 341 or Tina Fotherby at tina@famouspublicity.com or 07703 409 622.
About The Teapot Trust
The Teapot Trust provides professional art therapy to children with chronic illnesses in medical settings, with a particular remit to help children with rheumatological conditions. The Trust’s art therapists work in outpatient clinics, hospital wards, mental health services and hospices.
Long term health problems can cause anxiety, anger or upset for children and their families and may be difficult to talk about. Art therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety in clinics and before blood tests as children don’t always have the words to describe how they feel. Making art often gives them the ability to share worries non-verbally, helping children gain confidence, feel more in control and cope with their condition.
All of the Trust’s art therapists are clinically qualified with postgraduate-level training and extensive experience of working with children. They are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Association of Art Therapists.
In July 2015 Dr Laura N Young received an honorary doctorate from the Queen Margaret University for her work in using art therapy to help children and young people cope with long-term medical conditions.
The Teapot Trust runs up to three art therapy projects a day and currently works alongside other medical professionals in the following locations:
RHSC (‘Sick Kids’), Edinburgh
RHC, Glasgow
Tayside Children’s Hospital (‘Ninewells’), Dundee
Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital
CHAS Rachel House Hospice, Kinross
Art workshops for TCT, SNAC, SPARN and others
Group work for CAMHS, Young Person’s Eating Disorders Unit, Edinburgh
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Borders General, Melrose
Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals, London