Belonging at Sheffield Children’s: Children’s Mental Health Week

Award-winning poet Sile Sibanda has been inspiring creativity and self-expression in children and young people at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, bringing powerful conversations about identity, belonging and individuality.

Sile was invited to host a series of creative workshops as part of Art+, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity’s dedicated arts programme. Sile aims to nurture a love and understanding of poetry among the young people she works with, helping to make writing accessible, inclusive and empowering for all children.

During the workshops, young people created their own poems titled “I Come From.” Each piece explores themes of identity, belonging and individuality – celebrating the personal stories, memories, cultures and experiences that make us unique.

The visit comes during  Children’s Mental Health Week, where this year’s theme is ‘This is My Place’. The theme highlights how a sense of belonging – in friendships, schools, families and communities – plays a vital role in children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

At Sheffield Children’s, belonging is more than a theme for a week. It is central to how care is delivered every day.

Our whole-child approach means recognising that health is about more than medicine. It’s about emotional wellbeing, creativity, relationships and identity. Programmes like Art+ help create moments of joy, reflection and connection – ensuring children feel seen, heard and understood, even during challenging times.

When children feel that they belong, they are more confident, more resilient and more able to contribute to the world around them.

At Sheffield Children’s, our commitment to belonging continues all year round – creating spaces where young people can ask questions, express themselves, share their stories and simply be themselves. Whether it’s day-to-day worries, complex conditions or life-saving interventions, we’re here for every child and young person across Sheffield,  South Yorkshire, and beyond.