Rockinghorse: Evaluation of Art and Wellbeing Project

The Rocking Horse Evaluation Living Lab is a collaboration between the University of Brighton, the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, and the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (The Alex).

The project aims to co-produce and evaluate wellbeing services and activities that enhance the experience of both young patients and hospital staff.
Using a Living Lab and co-production approach, the project brings together young people, staff, and researchers to collaboratively design and test evaluation tools and wellbeing offers.

Two main strands are being developed:
A Youth Voice Group (13+), creating a therapeutic, creative space where young people can express their experiences and influence hospital culture through arts-based and participatory methods.

Staff Wellbeing Offers, such as lunches, massages, and wellbeing resources, embedded into the hospital routine and evaluated through short surveys and micro-interviews.

The project combines quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how wellbeing initiatives can foster agency, connection, and compassionate care. As a service evaluation in its early stages, it focuses on developing shared learning, inclusive governance, and practical frameworks for sustainable wellbeing in paediatric healthcare settings.