Room for You

Who we are

Room for You has been in existence for 16 years. We are a charitable company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our core service is based in the three main hospital’s providing Cancer Treatment in the North East; at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle; at the City Hospital in Sunderland and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Our overriding purpose is to provide emotional support (through creativity and listening) to people living with life limiting, long term conditions. We believe that the unique feature in our way of working has been to pair a professional artist with a qualified counsellor who acts as a facilitator, bringing a high degree of sensitivity to the experience and feelings of those attending treatment so that participation is accessible in whichever way they choose, whether that is to engage with the arts activity or simply to talk to the facilitator, artist and others. Some time and space to review their experience of how their condition is impacting on their life with a non-medical ally is valued by the patient and carer alike. Often patients report that it has been useful to experience a welcome distraction from their own thoughts and concerns.

Room for You offers a safe, accepting and transforming space within a hospital, hospice or community healthcare setting where patients and carers can engage in arts activities and/or conversation. The artwork is used as a starting point and a vehicle for listening and talking as much as creative opportunity. The aim is to meet the patient or carer where they are in their unique journey in a respectful, caring and supportive way and the Room for You model demonstrates how arts in health services can alleviate stress and anxiety and assist in the development of ‘creative’ coping strategies.

Room for You’s Charitable Objectives:

The main objectives of the charitable company are to ‘protect and preserve the physical and mental health and to assist the rehabilitation of the general public, patients, former patients and carers.