What University where you at and which course were you studying when you completed a placement with Breathe?
I was at King’s College London when I started my placement, about to enter my fourth year of medical school. In-fact, when I received the internship, I decided to take a sabbatical year away from university, so I could focus on the opportunities that the experience would offer and explore freelance work for the first time. My placement gave me a very thorough grounding in events programming, recruitment and facilitation in an arts-and-health context.
What did you do on your placement with Breathe?
My placement gave me a very thorough grounding in events programming, recruitment and facilitation in an arts-and-health context. My main tasks were related to the Melodies for Mums programme. As an aspiring psychiatrist, it was a very formative experience for me to be able to sit in these sessions where recent mothers would learn to sing with their babies, accelerating recovery from post-natal depression. I co-ordinated the sessions and helped with recruitment, eventually leading to a full series of workshops which was amazingly satisfying. Getting to know the families was an unforgettable experience which has been transformative for my perception of what healthcare is.
Why did this placement appeal to you?
The placement appealed to me because of my interests in psychiatry and music. Breathe offered the opportunity to see how these two fields come together on the ground, and the type of behind-the-scenes work that is needed to develop a program which is sustainable and effective.
What were your highlights whilst working at Breathe?
My highlights were definitely getting to know the families I got to work with and getting to know the Breathe team! The office space is adorably small and intimate and Breathe seems to attract a particularly cheerful breed of person. I had a wonderful time and the experience impacted me deeply. Getting to know the families was an unforgettable experience which has been transformative for my perception of what healthcare is.
What are you doing now?
Now I’m in my final year of medical school and since the internship the involvement I have in the arts has become more serious. I learnt a lot about arts programming and marketing and have thus been able to support myself as a freelance musician. Currently, I am working on a project supported by Arts Council England and The Royal College of Psychiatrists to run a series of urban music events catering to neuro-diverse artists. An incredible opportunity which directly uses all the skills I gained at Breathe!
