We want every child and young person to have the opportunity to make art, connect with others and feel that they belong — whatever their health condition, ability or circumstances.
That means looking at the whole Helium experience and asking: what might create a barrier to taking part, and what can we do to remove it?
From making our website accessible and translating programme information and posters, to speaking with families before a workshop and adapting the creative experience to the young people in the room, we think about accessibility at every stage.
Before each workshop, our Family Liaison Officer speaks with families to understand each young person as an individual — their interests, preferences, support needs and anything that might help them feel comfortable. Our artists receive this information in advance, giving them time to prepare and think about different ways each young person can participate.
Our workshops are child-centred and child-led. There is no right way to make art. Young people can explore, experiment, take breaks, make choices and create at their own pace.
And accessibility isn’t simply about being able to attend. It’s about creating the conditions for independence, confidence, connection and belonging.
What does inclusive creativity look like?
Sometimes, inclusion means making a small change that makes a big difference.
It might mean adapting a tool so it’s easier to hold, bringing an activity to a young person rather than asking them to move, or giving someone the option to work standing up or on the floor.
Every workshop has a chill-out space for anyone who needs a quieter moment, and we build movement breaks and sensory supports into our sessions. Our doodle tables give young people an opportunity to start creating as soon as they arrive, helping them settle into the space in their own way.
We also think about the practical barriers to participation. Our workshops are free for families, take place in local community and family resource centres, and siblings and friends can join in. A medic is present at every workshop, giving families reassurance and young people the support they need to participate safely. We’re also exploring ways to make travel easier, having recently piloted travel support for our Summer Camp. And where getting to a workshop isn’t possible, our online art box programme brings creativity directly to families at home.
We listen and keep learning
We don’t assume we have all the answers.
We ask children and families what they need, gather feedback, reflect with our artists and involve young people through our Youth Advisory Group. What we learn helps us adapt and improve.
Because the goal isn’t simply to make a workshop accessible.
It’s to create a space where a young person can be themselves without being defined by their health condition.
As one parent told us:
“So many things in his life are measured, through milestones and results. At Helium, he can just be – a space where none of that matters.”
That’s what inclusion means to us: removing barriers, creating choice and making space for every young person to create, connect and belong.
