Dr Helen Noble, Dr Claire Carswell and Anna Wilson, were awarded funding by the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account, to work in partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, to develop guidelines for future implementation of volunteer-led arts interventions in renal units.

The guidelines were developed via a series of online meetings and workshops with NHSCT staff, patients and artists. Due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the guidance now reflects the need for virtual volunteers in renal units who will support patients taking part in online arts activities, as well as in-person arts provision.

Click the button below to view the guidance document, infographic and animation.

Volunteer Guidelines

William Johnston was has contributed two 'Patient's Perspective' articles to the Journal of Kidney Care about the potential benefits of the arts for renal patients on dialysis and post-transplant. His first article The Renal Arts Group: a source of creativity and communication was included in the September 2019 issue of the journal and outlines his own renal arts journey, how RAG was formed and the continued development of the group. His second article COVID-19 and the UK lockdown: new challenges for the renal arts movement in Northern Ireland was published in November 2020 examines the challenges for renal patients during the pandemic and how William and the Renal Arts Group sought to overcome these issues.