Lucy Holmes met with The Art Room’s Chairman, Grant Phillips, who explained ‘The Art Room offers art as therapy to children and young people aged 5 -16 who are having serious difficulties and may be at risk of exclusion from school. The Art room uses art to raise their self esteem, confidence and independence and helps them cope with their challenges.’

In what Grant calls a ‘wonderful story’ and a ‘lovely coincidence of timing’, The Art Room received this fantastic honour in its tenth year. The charity has four locations in Oxford; Oxford Spires Academy, Rose Hill Primary School, Orchard Meadow Primary School and Matthew Arnold School, as well as an Art Room in London, Islington. The charity’s aim is to offer children and young-people from ages 5-16 the opportunity to use art as a therapy, and in doing so to raise their self-esteem. Fully endorsed by teachers and other professionals of the schools involved, who have seen the results first-hand, one clear benefit to come out of The Art Room’s work with children is their more positive re-engagement with formal education.

Speaking to Grant it is clear that credit for such a long reign of positive influence on challenging and vulnerable children is due to the founder/director of The Art Room, Juli. From her experience as a teacher and her work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Juli was, and is, very aware of the needs of children suffering from severe emotional challenges. She came to Oxford with this knowledge, and transposed that thinking into an idea, which became The Art Room.

It is wonderful to have a team of committed and visionary people to help improve the lives of those within all five Art Rooms. Some children within Oxford are suffering from difficulties at school, and some might be prime carers in their families.

Grant says ‘The Art Room provides children a respite from the pressures of daily life through art where they ‘learn and achieve’. The Art Room offers an environment in which children and young people are able to express how they are feeling. Each child is referred for 2 hours a week during school time.’

With the patronage of the HRH Duchess of Cambridge, The Art Room can potentially gain more support from more major trusts and foundations, not only continuing their work but also offering art as therapy to many more children and young people.

The future is more than promising for such a well-deserving charity and Grant is extremely positive. ‘This will be absolutely transformational for us as a local charity. Prior to the patronage, The Art Room was dependant upon corporate and individual sponsors and benefactors, and we would not be where we are today without the positive attitudes of our founder/director, Juli Beattie, our business director, Bel Crewe, and our committed trustees.

Grant was quick to heap glowing praise on Juli. ‘I think that the wonderful thing about Juli is the vision that she’s had, but also the indomitable spirit that has said, “I will go out and raise money to make this happen”.’

Grant, in praise of both Juli and of the Duchess of Cambridge, sums up recent events. ‘I think this is a fantastic story about the recognition of a true visionary. I think it’s a story about recognition by royalty of a very, very real social need, and its recognition for the City of Oxford, in terms of the work of Juli and the team.’

www.theartroom.org.uk