L-R: Matthew, Dennis, Louisa, Mercedez, Taitum
As a child, Hannah Phillips was diagnosed with a long-term health condition that meant she spent a large amount of time in hospital, often with little to entertain her. Now, as part of her BA Early Years degree at the University of Greenwich, she has worked with local children to write a storybook for children in a similar situation to hers.
The book, titled 'Can You Imagine', is made up of 7 short stories and pictures, all written and drawn by children at The Young Explorers Club in Lee. The stories are all aimed at bringing 'a little bit of sunshine' to children in hospital and their families, and the book has been published and distributed at Evelina London Children's Hospital.
Speaking about the work, Hannah said:
"The Early Years degree programme at Greenwich has allowed me to work with, inspire and by inspired by children in so many different ways.
"This culminated in 'Can You Imagine', which I hope will not only help those in hospital but also boost the confidence of the children involved and have a positive impact on the community."
Justine, a parent of one of the children involved, said:
"The trip to Evelina London at Christmas to hand the books to children had a huge impact on my daughter. She suddenly stopped thinking about the adverts on TV and talked about what it must be like for children in hospital at Christmas and other times of the year.
"The book was such a great idea and to involve the children in helping others really meant something."
More information on 'Can You Imagine' and a link to download the book can be found on Hannah's website.
