The Brain Charity

Creative expression isn’t just a fun way to spend the day for children with neurological conditions – it’s a lifeline. 

At The Brain Charity, we’ve seen first-hand how our specialist children’s services, including the Brain Changer Arts Project, transform young lives through creativity, connection, and care.  

As we aim to continue to grow and diversify what we offer to families, we’re more committed than ever to creating safe, supportive spaces where every child can thrive. 

Freddie’s story: “The respite we received from The Brain Charity was invaluable.” 

Rachel and Phil, full-time carers for their grandson Freddie – who lives with Kabuki syndrome and Tourette’s – discovered our Brain Changer Arts Project through a physiotherapist. Freddie attended our art-based half-term sessions and flourished. 

“Freddie was kept busy every day with things that he loved. He had a fantastic time and was already asking when he could go back.” – Rachel 

The sessions gave Freddie a sense of belonging while offering his carers essential time to rest. 

“The respite was so much more than just a break for us; it gave us peace of mind. It was such a relief to know Freddie was being cared for by people who truly understood his needs and ours.” – Phil 

Six terms of success – and growing 

Over the past two years, we’ve delivered six terms of Brain Changer Arts Project sessions to groups of 10 children at a time. Since the project began six years ago, we’ve supported 372 children across 27 schools and over 504 sessions in total. 

These free, innovative workshops are designed for young people with neurological conditions who may not otherwise have access to extracurricular therapies or support. 

Each session offers either occupational therapy through arts and crafts or physiotherapy through dance, allowing children to engage in vital therapeutic activities while having fun. From mask-making to movement games, every activity supports fine and gross motor skills, cognitive development, and emotional well-being. 

What many people don’t realise is that occupational therapy (OT) isn’t just about jobs. In OT, ‘occupations’ refer to the everyday activities that give life meaning — from play and school tasks to self-care and communication. OT aims to help individuals of all ages participate in these essential parts of life in ways that work best for them. 

Rose’s story: “She was paralysed after tumour op – art helped her hold scissors again.”

 

After brain tumour surgery left Rose paralysed and unable to swallow, The Brain Charity’s online Brain Changer sessions during the pandemic helped her rebuild her fine motor skills. 

“Being able to make that dolls house really helped her keep on top of her mental health – especially through the lockdown.” – Dee, Rose’s mum

Rose’s creativity flourished through crafting, and so did her confidence. She now enjoys the independence of making things herself again. 

Tackling inequality with creativity 

With incredible support from many generous funders including the HAF fund, BBC Children in Need and Masonic Charitable Trust we’ve made it a priority to reach socio-economically disadvantaged families across Merseyside. Every child deserves joy, stimulation, and care — and that’s exactly what our projects offer. During funded sessions, we’ve even provided hot meals to ensure children are nourished physically as well as emotionally. 

Recently, we’ve secured additional funding from Slater Trust for dance sessions and family days out, helping us to diversify the range of experiences available. These inclusive, imaginative activities are designed to support children’s development and provide vital shared moments for families—moments that many simply can’t access elsewhere. 

William’s story: “We feel so lucky we discovered The Brain Changer Arts Project during the COVID-19 lockdowns.” 

William, lives with Down’s syndrome and is non-verbal with low muscle tone and severe learning disabilities. During lockdown, his education stopped abruptly — until his family discovered our Brain Changer online sessions. 

“There was an absolutely huge emotional impact. We could get him back into a routine, which is vital for Down’s syndrome.” – Chris, William’s dad 

From scissor use to painting with cotton buds, William’s skills and confidence were maintained and even grew — helping him and his family navigate an uncertain time with structure and joy. 

The impact: real results for real lives 

These sessions aren’t just fun and games – they’re proven to support physical, social, and emotional development. Children attending our sessions have shown improvements in: 

• Motor control and balance through structured dance movement 

• Hand-eye coordination and dexterity through arts and crafts 

• Speech and communication skills through music-based interaction 

• Social skills and confidence, as they connect with peers and trusted adults 

• Emotional regulation, thanks to a calming, supportive environment 

Many parents tell us that the sessions have boosted their child’s independence and reduced feelings of isolation – for both the child and the carer. 

Real, measurable outcomes 

The Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) is an outcome measure involving individualised goal selection and goal scaling that is standardised in order to calculate the extent to which a child’s goals are met. GAS is a method of scoring the extent to which the child’s individual goals are achieved in the course of intervention. 

We’re proud to share that our Brain Changer Arts Project is delivering meaningful progress for the children and young people who take part as measured by out GAS scale: 

• 97% of participants in our Physiotherapy through Dance sessions improved in both of their personalised goals over 12 weeks. 

• 92% of children in Occupational Therapy through Art also made progress across both of their goals during the same period. 

• On top of that, 40% of all participants showed significant improvement in at least one area of their development. 

These figures highlight the power of creative therapies in building confidence, mobility, and independence — all while having fun. 

Faith’s story: “The Brain Changer Arts Project helps her love the physio she needs”

Faith, who lives with Chiari malformation, used to resist physiotherapy – until she joined The Brain Changer Arts Project. Through movement, music and craft, she learned to engage joyfully in therapy. 

“Normally, Faith would try and get out of doing physio… but she was always so excited to do the sessions and didn’t really notice there was physio involved.” – Sarah, Faith’s mum. 

These inclusive, supportive sessions not only helped Faith improve her motor skills but also gave her a confidence boost at a time when she needed it most. 

Looking ahead 

As we plan ahead, we’re excited to continue expanding our offer for children and families. New projects are in the pipeline to ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to accessing the therapeutic support they need. 

Whether it’s arts-based OT, physiotherapy through dance, or simply a fun, inclusive space to explore new ideas, our children’s services are making a real difference. 

If you’d like to refer a child or learn more about our creative therapy services, please contact Christina at The Brain Charity at christina.beaumont@thebraincharity.org.uk or complete our online referral form. 

Together, let’s build a future where every child can express themselves, connect with others, and reach their full potential.