Roedean students brighten up hospital room

Students from Roedean School are joined by teacher Mr Greg Wilson

A group of students from Years 7 and 8 were led by Year 12 student Victoria Nathan-Maister who designed and drew the fairy tale scene for the girls to paint as part of co-curricular activities for junior boarders.

Situated in the hospital’s dedicated Children’s Emergency Department, the baby room provides a private space for parents and their babies who are waiting to be seen by a nurse or doctor.

The creative artwork has injected a much-needed colour boost to the room.

In partnership with Rockinghorse, the official fundraising arm of the Alex who commissioned the mural, students volunteered their time to create the piece which took almost two weeks to complete.

The girls were joined by Roedean teacher Greg Wilson for an official unveiling of the room on January 18, and there was an opportunity for the girls to take pictures to show their friends and fellow pupils.

Mr Wilson said: “Rockinghorse has been very supportive in our aim for all the junior boarders to complete ten hours of community service this year.

“The mural was the perfect project as it was genuinely helping others, supportive of our local community and extremely enjoyable. All the girls keep on asking if they can do another one!”

Lead student artist Victoria Nathan-Maister said: “The mural was a great opportunity to take part in a project that will hopefully bring a smile to people’s faces in the future. It was also great to be able to work as a team and accomplish something we were all proud of.”

Representatives from Rockinghorse also took the opportunity to thank the school for their involvement in the project, and to those students who dedicated their time to make it a success, including Victoria Nathan-Maister, Mwaba Mwiko, Onate Osima-Dokubo, Molly Maclean, Pan-Pan Niumpradit, Harriet Moore-Holland, Ophelia Phillips, Darcey McAllister, Persia Kosten-Modder, Lalyn Wongvaree, Phoebe Hawker, Phoebe Hambling, Zara Forrest, India Brown and Imogen Donald.

Liz McCluskey, schools and community fundraising manager at Rockinghorse, said: “We are so pleased with the support and dedication the girls have given to the project. Together they have created such a wonderful colourful mural on the walls in the baby room and should be very proud of what they have achieved.”

The charity is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having supported sick children in Sussex since 1967.

It has launched the Sussex Giving for Sussex Children appeal which aims to raise £500,000 in 2017 to be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services in Sussex.

To find out more or how to get involved, visit rockinghorse.org.uk.