National Portrait Gallery launches new activity book

Veer, 17, with the new activity book.

The National Portrait Gallery has launched a new activity book to celebrate the fifteen-year anniversary of its Hospitals Programme.

The activity book, Champions of the World, introduces young people to the portraits and diverse stories of exceptional, hard-working and talented people who are changing our world for the better.

It features twelve well-known figures from the worlds of sport and entertainment, including footballer, Marcus Rashford; ballet dancer, Dame Darcy Bussell; singer, Ed Sheeran; Paralympian wheelchair racer, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; actor and rapper, Riz Ahmed; and Olympic long distance runner, Sir Mo Farah.

The Gallery has a long standing history of working with Evelina London in close collaboration with play specialists, nursing staff and teachers within the Evelina Hospital School to promote learning and engagement with the arts whilst in hospital. Thanks to support from Delancey, it has donated 1,000 copies of the book for patients at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Sue Pruden, service lead and manager of the therapeutic play service, said: “The activity books have gone down very well with patients of all ages. The activities and messaging in the book are very inclusive and inspiring and we are grateful to the Gallery for providing us with this brilliant, free resource.”

Veer, age 17, attends Beach ward three times per week for dialysis. He said: “I often draw while I have my treatment, so it’s great to have this new book. I particularly like the Ed Sheeran activity, I do like him and he has some really good songs!”

The activity book can be downloaded for free from the National Portrait Gallery website.