Activity Space Launched at West Middlesex Hospital
GreenUP Lakeside will provide access to nature for patients, staff and visitors
Activities for patients and visitors will be held in the space. Picture: CW+
October 11, 2024
A project to revitalise the underused Lakeside area at the West Middlesex Hospital has been completed with a new welcoming space for the hospital community.
CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust launched the CW+ GreenUP project to improve access to nature and promote the wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors. This initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Greener Communities Fund – a partnership between environmental charity Hubbub and NHS Charities Together (NHSCT), funded by proceeds from the Starbucks 5p cup charge.
The GreenUP project include new planting, the creation of accessible pathways, and the development of a dedicated area for workshops and outdoor activities. These improvements now provide a calm environment where everyone can connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of fresh air and green surroundings.
As part of this initiative, CW+ has also set up a participation programme, which is designed to encourage patients, staff, and visitors to engage in outdoor workshops, acquire new skills, and take an active role in the development of the space. Activities include yoga, Zumba, meditation and landscape painting, which will have a positive effect on the hospital community, enhancing health and wellbeing.
A special launch event took place on Wednesday 9 October, which was attended by representatives from Hubbub, along with members of the hospital community, including the CEO of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Lesley Watts, who made a speech to mark the opening of the Lakeside area. The launch also included a creative mosaic workshop with patients, staff and visitors. Performing at the event were CW+ Arts for All artists Matt Redman and Patricia Hammond, and the Hammersmith Community Gardens Association provided refreshments.
The launch of the new amenity space at the West Mid.. Picture: CW+
Sheena Basnayake, Hospital Director and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who was also in attendance at the launch, said, ‘We are thrilled to officially launch GreenUP at West Mid. The workshop area has specifically been created for staff, patients and visitors to enjoy workshops, exercise and movement classes, all of which support our ambition of providing therapeutic care, right in the heart of our community. Thank you to the local community for their ongoing support with this exciting new development.’
Emily Thomas, Arts Manager at West Middlesex University Hospital, added, ‘CW+ is proud to have undertaken the GreenUP project at West Mid, supporting the Trust’s commitment to provide a holistic approach to care. We are incredibly grateful to the Greener Communities Fund for providing us with the opportunity to improve the Lakeside space, which will not only bring health benefits to patients and staff, but also the wider community.’
Jon Goodwin, Head of Grants at NHS Charities Together, said, ‘ We are thrilled to see this project come to life, and that funding from the Greener Communities Fund has been put to good use. Research has shown just how important green spaces are to our health and wellbeing, but we also know that there are many barriers to accessing nature, particularly for people who live in more deprived areas. The transformation of the Lakeside area surrounding West Middlesex Hospital is fantastic and will make a huge difference to everyone who uses the space, including NHS staff, patients and the wider community. The launch of the CW+ participation programme at the Lakeside will offer something for everyone - whether people want to paint, meditate and take in the beautiful scenery, or get involved in more vigorous physical activity such as yoga or Zumba – all of which can really benefit our physical health and wellbeing.’
Running alongside the Lakeside redevelopment, education and sustainability engagement strand of the GreenUP project, GreenUP Digital has been introducing work and artists at both West Middlesex University Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Interactive and immersive technologies will connect patients and staff confined to clinical areas with nature, including in Adult Intensive Care.
For more information on GreenUP, visit the CW+ website.
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