Great Ormond Street Hospital
Go Active Day Impact Report – 27th June at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Our team attended the Go Active Day at Great Ormond Street Hospital to bring joy to patients and families. The event provided an opportunity to engage with children, families and healthcare professionals through inclusive movement, music and play.
We also had the opportunity to meet one of the GOSH physiotherapists, helping to strengthen relationships with the wider multidisciplinary team. This is likely to lead to some “Pre-Hab” activities which are in development. Pre-hab (short for prehabilitation) is the process of improving a person’s physical and mental health before a planned medical treatment, surgery or major health intervention to help them recover better afterwards.
On the Day…
Participation steadily increased throughout the day, with more children and families joining in as confidence grew. By the end of the session, there was a wonderful atmosphere of movement, laughter and shared enjoyment.
Social Connection
The activities created opportunities for children, families and staff to interact in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
Children joined together through shared games, music and movement, building confidence as the session progressed.
There were lovely conversations throughout the event between participants, families and staff.
Several children shared their personalities and interests through dance, including a few obvious young dancers who enthusiastically joined in.
One little girl, child E, was particularly engaged, while another child dressed as Bluey enjoyed joining in, and together we even shared a few moonwalks.
Even Spider-Man managed to redeem our previous experiences with spiders!
Physical Wellbeing
The session encouraged children of all abilities to move in ways that were enjoyable and appropriate to their individual needs.
Bubbles were extremely popular throughout the day and encouraged movement and engagement.
Ribbons and scarves were very well received and enabled children with different levels of mobility to participate successfully.
The YMCA routine proved to be another firm favourite, encouraging everyone to move together.
One particularly memorable moment was the race activity. Watching children, despite their physical limitations, running and participating with such determination was incredibly moving and inspired us. It was a powerful reminder of the resilience these children demonstrate every day.
Emotional Wellbeing
The day created many moments of happiness, confidence and enjoyment.
There were smiles throughout the event and genuine excitement as children joined in with the activities.
Families and staff could clearly see the enjoyment the children were experiencing through music and movement.
The atmosphere became increasingly positive as participation grew, creating an uplifting experience for everyone involved.
Mental Wellbeing
The activities helped create a positive and stimulating environment where children could focus on fun rather than illness.
There were so many smiling faces throughout the day.
The combination of music, movement and interaction created an uplifting atmosphere for children, families, hospital staff and volunteers alike.
The activities promoted confidence, engagement and positive emotional experiences during what can often be a challenging time for families.
Overall Impact
Go Active Day at GOSH highlighted the powerful role that inclusive movement can play in supporting children and young people receiving hospital care.
Throughout the event we observed:
- Increased confidence and participation as the day progressed.
- Strong social interaction between children, families, staff and volunteers.
- Inclusive physical activity using accessible props such as bubbles, ribbons and scarves.
- Joy, laughter and shared experiences through music and dance.
- Opportunities for children to express themselves regardless of their physical abilities.
- A highly positive atmosphere that supported both emotional and mental wellbeing.
Perhaps the strongest reflection from the day was the overwhelming sense of gratitude and resilience. There were many emotional moments throughout, and it served as a powerful reminder of the importance of creating opportunities for children to simply enjoy being children. The event left everyone involved feeling inspired, uplifted and reminded of the profound difference that inclusive movement and enrichment activities can make within the hospital environment.
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