Outreach Projects

TDLP work with the NHS, local government, housing associations and other social enterprises to target new audiences and improve health and well-being of families with young children.

Our "Play While you Wait" scheme

In Spring 2013 TDLP piloted their new Play while you Wait scheme, a creative arts programme for doctor's waiting rooms, health centres and hospitals.  The scheme aims to engage patients in physical and creative activity during waiting time and in turn reduce stress and improve the atmosphere creating a more family friendly environment.  Our key partner for the pilot was St Johns Medical Centre on Loampit Vale where we trialled a series of interactive sessions and products with families and surgery staff.  

We increased physical activity and awareness of the benefits of movement and music for very young children.  We decreased the stress for adults by engaging with their children during waiting time and for children we used storytelling and visual "take-in" activities that demystified the routine practise of injections and check ups and proved to relax children when entering the doctors room in turn reducing appointment time and therefore waiting time.

‘The week before [the TDLP session] she had an appointment for an ear infection. She wouldn’t let the doctor look at it and we had to leave. It was really stressful. This time she went in relaxed - for an injection. The nurse was surprised by the flowers [which she’d made during the session] - they were a great distraction. This time there was no problem with the injection.’ a parent of a 2 year old

95% of participants engaged in the mat area during baby clinic for between 10 minutes and 2 hours. Babies and young children, and their carers, were physically engaged in rocking, lifting, rolling, tracking and grasping through repetitive action songs and free play. A 95% reduction in sedentary behaviour and a 95% increase in physical activity was identified during the TDLP activities. At least two families per session asked about other TDLP sessions or local sessions, showing an improved understanding of the benefits of physical activity and creatively engaging with children and commented on a new-found confidence to attend sessions to promote this following their involvement with the project that they didn’t have before.

The developing Play While you Wait menu for surgeries, health centres and hospitals:

Interactive murals custom-designed for a specific space 

Interactive furniture – such as a craft table decorated with a visual activity aimed to improve knowledge of bodily functioning

Crafts Packs - inclusive packs available from reception that include all materials for a 15 minute self-contained activity i.e. a game, a plastic syringe bird, a bandage flower, doctor’s bag and nurse’s hat

Artist-led Carer and Baby Music and Movement sessions including originally composed songs that encourage floor-based and carer/baby physical activity

Artist-led visual art and storytelling sessions - Bandage bombing, plaster sculpture, craft packs, “Take-In” activities (where a child makes something to take in to their appointment to ease transition) all linked to our commissioned story "Well Land and the visit from the Germ family"

For a full social impact report of the pilot scheme "Play While you Wait" please email info@tdlp.co.uk

For bookings of Play While You Wait for your surgery or centre please email sally@tdlp.co.uk or call 07817176018

The pilot was funded by Lewisham Central Ward Community First Panel.  We are now looking for a long term sponsor or funder to help support the roll out of our scheme.

"Build your own Play Town" in partnership with Affinity Sutton Housing Group

In June 2013, TDLP will launch a new creative arts group in partnership with Lee Green Lives Community Association and Affinity Sutton.  The project aims to encourage residents with young children to regularly attend their local centre, in turn focusing on reducing sedentary behaviour at home and increasing community cohesion.
If you are a housing association interested in our work, please contact sally@tdlp.co.uk

"Table Manners for the Under 5's" - A creative approach to healthy eating and communal eating.
In July 2013, TDLP will team up with local CIC Delicious Nutritious to begin piloting a new cook & eat programme for families with young children.  Together we aim to develop an innovative approach to delivering a creative healthy eating event that uses music, song, movement, food art and storytelling to engage families in trying new foods, increase their knowledge of diet and increase awareness of family lifestyle choices and the benefits of eating together.  A typical session will involve 2 chefs and 2 artists leading a cook and eat session, integrated with stories and action songs that encourage the rituals of cooking and eating together as a family as well as increased knowledge by adults and children of new foods, healthy choices and cooking within a budget with families going away with recipes they can try at home.  The pilot is funded by Rushey Green Community: Neighbourhood Matched Fund.
For further information on any of our outreach programmes please contact sally@tdlp.co.uk