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Joanna Cannon, international best-selling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie has pledged her support to Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Arts for Health programme, particularly a popular reading for wellbeing scheme which supports patients from across the Trust.

At the Trust’s recent Annual Members’ Meeting and Trust Festival Joanna joined service users in reading excerpts from Three Things About Elsie.

Joanna said “I had a wonderful time at St George’s Hospital and very much enjoyed the Reading for Wellbeing session at the Trust Festival with service users from different wards. There is nothing more wonderful and more moving and more humbling than hearing service users read your words”.

Last year Joanna kindly donated £2000 to Arts for Health, plus a book voucher which will go towards more books for service users to read. Recently her publishing company, HarperCollins, matched the donation in lieu of a launch party for Joanna’s latest book Three Things About Elsie. Both author and publisher wanted to celebrate the book’s publication by supporting the delivery of creative projects on the wards, and improving the health and wellbeing of service users.

Arts for Health Coordinator Jessica Kent said “We are really grateful to both Joanna and HarperCollins for their support of our Arts for Health Programmes. Reading for Wellbeing sessions create opportunities for debate and discussion and for sharing learning and experience. Participants also gain confidence in presenting their thoughts and ideas as well as enjoying taking part in a group activity. It is wonderful to be able to work in partnership with a published author to empower people to improve their care and wellbeing”.

For more information on Arts for Health’s range of wellbeing programmes please contact 01785 221328 or 01743 210048.