A MUSSELBURGH-BASED art therapy charity for children with chronic conditions has been working hard to adapt its services in response to coronavirus.

The Teapot Trust has made its one-to-one art therapy available via video conferencing and put in place new protocols for online safety.

This will ensure that children and young people living with chronic conditions, who are experiencing heightened anxiety in these unprecedented times, won’t miss out on the regular therapy they rely on.

Delivering art therapy online is something the charity was already exploring as a means of reaching those in rural locations but coronavirus accelerated those plans.

Teapot trustee Dr Simon Hackett recently secured funding from the Carnegie Trust to research this topic.

The charity’s art therapists can now be involved in the research to assess the impact of this new work.

In addition to online therapy, and to keep children creatively occupied at home, a suite of resources developed by Teapot Trust will soon be available on its website. Fun activities, task sheets and video clips will be available.

Teapot Trust CEO Sarah Randell said: “I’m so proud of our team of art therapists and core staff who together have quickly transformed the way we deliver art therapy. They’ve created a secure online world so that children don’t miss out on an important part of their lives which helps them cope better with the impact of their conditions.

“Given that many fundraising events have been cancelled or postponed, a donation to Teapot Trust, no matter how small, will help us to ensure that we can continue supporting children and young people remotely at this challenging time.

“We’d also love to hear from anyone keen to fundraise in new and creative ways… online tea party, anyone?”

The Teapot Trust, based at Stuart House, Eskmills Park, provides a programme of art therapy in hospitals to support children and young people with chronic conditions and their families.

The charity, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was founded by Laura and John Young, of Gullane, after their daughter Verity died from cancer in November 2009.

Verity also suffered lupus and had spent most of her life in hospital. She had taken comfort in art as a way to escape.

To donate or find out more, visit teapot-trust.org