Summary
The Highs & Lows is a choir for children age between 7-16 who have, or live with someone with, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The idea was to offer the children and their parents support from the diabetes team in a non-clinical setting and for the children and parents to offer support to one another. It helps them understand that diabetes should not hold them back - and for that one hour a week they can be the same as their friends. They are taught how to breathe properly, sing, perform and have fun, while meeting other children with diabetes and realising they are not alone or abnormal. Parents also have the opportunity to meet and socialise, make new friends and discuss their lives with diabetes.
Results
The children have been performing in public with great enthusiasm - for some of them, this has been their first time on a public stage. There has been continuous support from parents and the choir has appeared in the Leicester Mercury and on Radio Leicester. The choir allows the children and parents to become diabetes buddies and offer support to one another while they have fun and socialise. Partnerships between the children and health care professionals have already developed as the boundaries which often appear in a clinical environment are reduced. The Local Education Authority supported an application for the choir to appear in a schools event at De Montfort Hall in Leicester.
Challenge
Some children see coming to the diabetes clinic as a threatening environment. Many are reluctant to open up or engage with doctors about their diabetes and life with it, so the idea of a choir – getting children together in a non-clinical setting – was formed to give them somewhere they could be themselves and be allowed to talk about any problems they may have without their parents over analysing everything.
Objectives
To allow the children to share an enjoyable experience with others who understand the difficulties of living with diabetes, enabling them to feel confidence to be open about their condition and access support from peers. To promote the choir and spread the word about children’s diabetes – and to allow parents an opportunity to access advice outside of a clinical setting in a relaxed and informal way.
Solution
Plans for the choir were identified with the children’s diabetes team, following input from parents and families to gauge interest. An age group was identified and information was sent out to encourage the children to attend. Funding was sourced for the venue, hoodies and T-shirts. Meanwhile, local media were involved to help promote the choir. There was also advertising within Leicester Children’s Hospital, raising the profile within Leicester Children’s Diabetes Parents Group.
Learnings
It was vital to get the support of the diabetes team - although it is important to ensure there is more than one team member who will support you and provide a listening ear when it becomes challenging. The support of the Leicester Children’s Diabetes Parents Group has undoubtedly been a huge driver, helping to advertise the choir online and funding venue hire - without this financial as well as motivational support the choir may not have been able to continue. Discussing the choir with Leicester Children’s Hospital staff means they have recognised the value of the venture and provided support. Initially just children with diabetes were invited - but it was soon realised that their siblings are just as important and they are now welcomed too. Continuing enthusiasm and energy to carry on is vital to succeed. Once established, the children and parents will be able to support this venture themselves with just minimal support from the professional team.
Evaluation
Monitoring repeated attendance at practices - there are now 19 to 22 children in the choir – as well as ongoing written and verbal feedback from children and parents and recognition from the children’s hospital.
