Our Impact
According to the 2022 census, 12% (156,437 ) of the youth population in Ireland, live with the effects of illness or disability every day. 18,000 of these children are considered as severely hampered in their everyday lives, according to the most recent Growing Up in Ireland Report.
Children living with health conditions often face loneliness, stress, anxiety, and feel defined by their condition. They experience: stigma associated with their condition, social isolation and loneliness and fewer quality friendships.
Helium Arts brings positivity to these children’s lives through award-winning, free participatory arts programmes. We use creativity to inspire these children to feel more confident. By empowering them with tools such as friendship, community and new skills, our programmes help these children to become more prepared and capable of overcoming adversity.
Our creative projects take place in hospital, health and community settings around Ireland, transforming the healthcare experience of young people and those who care for them through art, imagination and play.
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Learn about the impact of our work from some of the young people and the healthcare professionals involved!
Since Helium was established in 2010, our projects have benefited over 10,000 children and their families across Ireland.
An independent evaluation of Helium’s work found that young people were:
- happier and less bored as a result of taking part
- more confident
- distracted from their illness
- feeling more comfortable in the hospital environment