Returning to Battersea this Spring: Barnardo’s

We’re thrilled to be able to continue our work with children’s charity Barnardo’s at Battersea this Spring and we’ve managed to catch up with the charity’s Director Lynn Gradwell, to discover how art can be used as a healing tool and the positive effects it can have on the lives of vulnerable children.

What does Barnardo’s do as a children’s charity?

As a children’s charity we believe a child’s future should never be defined by their past and that’s why over the last 150 years we have supported and witnessed the incredible ability of a child to transform their life no matter what challenges they have faced. Barnardo’s assists families in staying strong and to overcome the challenges they come up against. We support children and young people who have been abused and help them to feel safe again, so that they have the best chance to achieve their full potential.

What types of therapy do you offer the young people you support?

All of the work we do tends to have some therapeutic component, including family support within the home as well as more traditional and clinical approaches. We help to create a space for reflection, recognition and resolution for the many families facing crisis, tragedy or hardship in one form or another. Some of these families are dealing with situations, which have an extreme emotional impact. Children may suffer from mental health difficulties, have short life expectancies, or complex care requirements resulting from a disability. Others face a life away from their birth families when moving into or leaving care.

What exactly does art therapy involve and what are the benefits?

Art therapy involves using art as a medium for exploration and expression, and to deepen a child’s understanding of their own situation and circumstances. Artistic reflection can broaden our understanding of assumptions and prejudices, helping to identify things that may have become stuck in a particular pattern and suggesting ways to change things for the better. Children are able to see themselves as unique individuals rather than a set of things that have happened to them.

Art is also an engaging activity that some of the most vulnerable children may never have experienced before and can enable them to be the masters of their own creations, without having to worry about external control or judgment.

How did you make the most of your involvement in the Battersea Autumn fair?

We were delighted to be chosen as the Affordable Art Fair’s Charity Partner! The first Charity Private View helped us to raise more than £7,000, which we used to support vulnerable children and young people around the UK. Our stall at the fair enabled us to talk directly to visitors about the work that we do. Visitors could also buy limited editioned prints (pictured) by graphic artist, Anthony Burrill, which were specially commissioned for Barnardo’s.

What’s new for Spring 2017?

We’ll have a stall offering more exclusive work for sale by Anthony Burrill and other well-known Barnardo’s supporters. On the last day of the fair we’ll be hosting our Sunday Sofa Session where we’ll discuss in detail how art can be used to engage with children and young people. A self-portrait workshop using mirrors to explore the theme of ‘I am’ is currently in the pipeline. We’ve also been running an art competition with schools in and around London, with prizes to be presented during the charity preview evening.

You can help Barnardo’s to continue their great work at the fair by purchasing your tickets directly from the charity »