Planet Asthma Art and Activity Book gets a thumbs up
4 November 2009
The Bromley by Bow Centre's art and health team have been working in partnership with Asthma UK to produce a book - Planet Asthma Art and Activity - which offers guidance and raises awareness on the condition in a fun, creative way. Over 18% of Tower Hamlets children suffer from asthma, a serious condition which in extreme cases can prove fatal.
On Thursday 15th October key health, community and education professionals in Tower Hamlets descended on the Centre to celebrate the book and work towards disseminating its messages and workshop methods borough-wide.
Neil Churchill, CEO of Asthma UK, addressed the audience and praised the book for its innovative approach. This project has helped children, young people and their families understand and manage their condition better. Participants in Planet Asthma, explored issues around understanding and managing asthma through an innovative arts-based project.
The project was supported by Asthma UK through a donation from Pfizer UK Foundation. This support also made possible the publication of a book that captures the project and serves as a manual for those in schools, community centres and primary care settings who may be interested in replicating the project.
Yvonne Coughlan, Project Coordinator and Practice Nurse at the Bromley by Bow Centre said: ‘Funding from Asthma UK and the Pfizer UK Foundation enabled our team to develop an innovative asthma education project that used art and exercise to empower children, young people and their families. The project also inspired schools and health centres to develop their health education work, incorporating art and exercise as a means of communicating about asthma to those with asthma and a wider audience.’
If you are interested in attending or hosting an in depth seminar on Planet Asthma, please call Vanessa Barker on 0208 709 9714 or email vanessab@bbbc.org.uk.
Visit the Planet Asthma website, www.planetasthma.org.uk
