The ARCHIE Foundation

Creative kids make their mark on GMed at Aboyne Hospital

(photo: Nomad's Scot Mason, Project Director, discussing a completed 'map' with some delighted 3rd Banchory Rainbows.)

Creative children in Deeside have let their imagination run riot to help make a medical facility a more child-friendly and attractive environment.

The ARCHIE Foundation's Deeside Friends Group have enlisted the help of the 3rd Banchory Rainbows, Brownies and Beaver Groups to improve the treatment and waiting room facilities for the out-of-hours GMed facility at Aboyne Hospital. The GMed centre in Aboyne provides out-of-hours care for people from throughout Deeside and often has children arriving in the middle of the night when they have become unwell.

Nomad, a Glasgow based visual artist group who were selected to re-design the space, are currently working with Deeside youngsters by running a series of workshops to gather their ideas and opinions on the G-Med space. The workshops were run by Nomad's Scot Mason and Corrie Gerard who had asked the local youth groups to draw maps from their homes to the hospital, detailing the various sights they might see on their journey there.

Scott Mason, Nomad's Project Director commented,"We have really enjoyed working on this project. The workshops with the local groups were really interesting as well as good fun. We have all of the drawings from the workshops up on our studio wall and they always fascinate visitors."

The artists have now taken away the 'maps' which will help them develop their designs for the redesign in this space of Aboyne Hospital.

The Deeside Friends of ARCHIE Group raises funds to help 'Make the Difference' for sick children in the Deeside area. The Group are always looking for volunteers. For more information please contact Marina Paterson, Tel: 01330 825547 or Peter Hutchison at the ARCHIE Foundation office, Tel: 01224 559559.