Breathe Magic Camp Parent Information Pack by Breathe AHR

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h searcorg e r h ealt ahr. arts h breathe . www

Breathe Magic Camps Parent Information Pack

Case Studies 4

Overview of Breathe Magic Camps Frequently Asked Questions

Contents

Who is Breathe Magic Camp for?

How will Breathe Magic Camp benefit my child?

Where and when will the Breathe Magic Camp take place?

Does my child need to attend all sessions?

What type of support will my child receive?

What will a typical day at Breathe Magic Camp include?

Does my child need to be enrolled in mainstream school?

Is there anything that may exclude my child from participating?

Is there anything we need to do in preparation for Breathe Magic Camp?

Can my child’s siblings or friends also join the magic camp?

Can we see an example of the camp or attend a session beforehand?

Do I have to stay with my child?

Can I just buy a magic kit and help my child learn themselves?

My child has already attended a Breathe Magic Camp, will s/he be able to attend the camp again?

hat research is there that demonstrates that this W is an effective therapy programme?

How do we sign up?

What next?

Case Studies

Meet the team

Sam

Elspeth 20

Josh

Angel

Jack

Tristan 28

Overview

An overview of Breathe Magic Camps for children with hemiplegia A fun and effective way for your child to significantly improve the use of their affected hand whilst increasing their independence and confidence! Breathe Magic 10-day Camps are a well-researched and highly effective intensive therapy programme where children learn specially selected and scaled magic tricks designed to help them increase the use of their affected hand and arm. Renowned Magic Circle magicians work alongside occupational therapists, in a 1:1 setting to teach magic tricks and performing skills which develop motor and bimanual skills and enhance confidence and self-esteem. The programme was developed in 2008, when Magic Circle magicians collaborated with occupational therapists from Evelina Children’s Hospital at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to design a creative approach to therapy. Clinical research has been integrated in to the design and delivery of the programme since 2008, under the leadership of Dr Dido Green. This ground-breaking associated research programme won a first poster prize award at the European Academy of Childhood Disabilities Conference in Istanbul in 2012 and the research results from the Breathe Magic programme have since been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. These results show significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the ability to use the weaker hand for independent performance of two-handed use. Children not only showed better bimanual skills and were quicker in picking up and releasing objects, but also reported being more confident and positive about their overall capabilities. The team at Breathe Magic have run 8 camps since 2008 across the UK, Israel and Australia. In essence, Breathe Magic Camps deliver a programme of simple magic tricks that replicate the movements taught in conventional therapy sessions. Each trick is carefully chosen to incorporate a series of precise exercises that help develop essential movements, e.g. hand rotation, picking up an object using the thumb and forefinger, with the repetitive action of practicing these tricks increasing the range of movement and building up strength and dexterity in the affected hand and arm. Each camp culminates in a show for family and friends put on in a theatre. Monthly magic clubs run for the six months following the camp to encourage a child to continue practicing the movements at home, as well as providing a boost to their self-confidence from developing a skill few of their able-bodied peers possess. The monthly clubs help the young people and their parents to build up strong peer support networks, which promotes the sustainability of the programme.

Breathe Magic Camp has made such a difference in terms of use of his right hand, independent living, resilience, confidence and self-esteem.” Jackie, mother of Ben, aged 10

FAQs

Who is Breathe Magic Camp for? Breathe Magic Camp is for young people, aged 7-17 years old, who have clinical signs of hemiplegia (predominately one-sided weakness or paralysis). It is advantageous if they also have an interest in magic/performance/theatre. How will Breathe Magic Camp benefit my child?

We know that Sam’s hand will never be perfect, but we just can’t believe the difference it has made to him...” Jayne, mother of Sam aged 13

Frequently Asked Questions

Sam’s story Read now

Breathe Magic Camp is a fun and safe place for young people with hemiplegia to learn specially selected magic tricks that encourage use of both hands. The repetitive action of practicing these tricks can help build up strength and dexterity in the affected hand and arm, and consequently help to increase independence. The performance skills taught as part of the magical learning experience are used to apply newly developed skills across a range of tasks and to increase the young people’s communication skills, general mobility, confidence, selfesteem and emotional wellbeing. Research has shown that participation in Breathe Magic camp significantly improves hand/arm movement. In clinical terms Breathe Magic delivers clear benefits. Assessment of the abilities of participants is made at the start and end of each camp. Further assessments are made at three and six month intervals thereafter to assess the programme’s long-term impact. Over the period participating children progressed significantly in using their weaker hand to perform two-handed tasks independently. In practical terms this means that for the first time children were able to use both hands to dress themselves, cut up food or tie their shoe laces; hugely significant achievements for a child not previously able to do so. Improvements in independence corresponded in a reduction in the additional time parents were providing to support their child by up to 50%. The acquisition of these practical skills as well as having a special talent to ‘wow’ their friends, in turn delivers significant benefits to the children’s emotional wellbeing. For example, the ability to successfully perform a professional magic trick and accomplish tasks independently, as their friends can, enables greater opportunities for participation across social and motor activities. In addition, the performance skills taught as part of the programme focus on improving the child’s communication skills and confidence.

FAQs

Where and when will the Breathe Magic Camp take place? The first Breathe Magic Camp will run around Easter from Monday 30th March - Friday 3rd April and Tuesday 7th - Saturday 11th April 2015 (please note the camp will take place on good Friday 3rd April). The second Breathe Magic Camp will run in the summer from Monday 27th July - Friday 7th August 2015 (excluding Saturday and Sunday). These camps will be held in an accessible venue in a central London location with strong public transport links. We will notify you of the exact location of the programme as soon as this has been confirmed.

Since the camp, she tries to see if she can do things with her right hand, exploring the possibilities for herself without being prompted!” Seonaid, mother of Elspeth aged 8

The camp runs for 10 days over two consecutive weeks, Monday - Friday from 10am - 4.30pm each day. The camp will conclude with a Magic show in the late afternoon/ early evening of the final day where the young people will perform alongside the magicians in a professional venue for their parents, family and friends. You will be notified soon after registration when and where the final performance will take place. Does my child need to attend all sessions? Yes, young people must be able to attend all sessions. This is important as the acquisition of new motor skills is dependent on the intensity of practice over a concentrated period and each session builds on previous skills learnt. Attendance for the two weeks is very important to make the most of this magical opportunity and to work on other functional goals identified at the beginning of the workshops. Attendance at the monthly magic clubs is equally important for consolidation (saving and retention) of new abilities as well as promoting continued progress across activities. What type of support will my child receive?

Elspeth’s story Read now

All young magicians will be supported in a 1:1 setting by a team of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy students under the leadership of a Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Magic Circle magicians. All staff on the programme have enhanced CRB clearances, have undertaken Safeguarding Children Training and have completed the bespoke Breathe Magic training package.

FAQs

What will a typical day at Breathe Magic Camp include? Each day at the magic programme will include practicing and learning of magic tricks. Theatre work such as making magician hats, waistcoats and wands, and also bimanual play, which includes gross motor activities such as ball games. Both hands will be encouraged in every task throughout the day.

Morning

Afternoon

Review of Magic Diaries Review of previously learnt tricks.

Bimanual play | Theatre studies Costume design and performing arts workshop.

New tricks Learn 3 or more new tricks. Morning snack Including bimanual tasks. Lunch Including bimanual meal preparation.

Magic practice setting Targets for magic practice of day’s tricks set in magic diaries. Three tricks per day to practice at home.

Magic Practice

Final Magic show

Magic Diaries will be used to record the daily tricks learnt that should be practiced at home in the evening. The home-based practice will also include a daily living task, a new task will be introduced each day which should also be practiced at home these may include: using a knife and fork to cut meat, peeling fruit/veg, doing up buttons.

The children will have the opportunity to present their new ‘magical skills’ in a Magic Show alongside members of the Magic Circle. The show will also include the presentation of Young Magician Certificates to all our new magicians!

Does my child need to be enrolled in mainstream school? We can only accept young people who do not have significant learning or behaviour difficulties or aphasia. If your child does attend a special school and may have some specific learning needs, please contact a member of the Breathe therapy team for discussion regarding the suitability of the programme for your child. Although each child will be allocated a 1:1 trainer for the week, each child must be able to work/play without one to one supervision, remember simple sequences of three to four steps and participate in group activities. Is there anything that may exclude my child from participating? Unfortunately we cannot accept young people on the programme if they have very significant medical needs (e.g. gastrostomy, poorly controlled seizures). Young people should also be sufficiently independent (for example be able to go to the toilet unattended, needing help with fastenings on clothing only). Is there anything we need to do in preparation for Breathe Magic Camp? No. Once your expression of interest has been received and approved you will be contacted with request for further details. You will be contacted by our Occupational Therapist before the camp to establish a baseline of current hand/arm movement and also to set some functional goals that can be focused on during the twoweek club. During Breathe Magic Camp we encourage families to liaise with the child’s trainer at the end of each day to assist their young person with their practice each night.

He’s now attempting things which he wouldn’t try on his own before — such as cutting up food on his plate...” Karen, mother of Josh aged 14

Can my child’s siblings or friends also join the magic camp? No, (unless they have hemiplegia) as the programme is specifically designed to meet the needs of children with hemiplegia. It is important the child with a hemiplegia is empowered by their new talent or as one child stated “This is the first time I am going back to school and can show my friends something they can’t do, it is ALWAYS the other way around”.

Josh’s story Read now

FAQs

Can we see an example of the camp or attend a session beforehand? Watch a short film of the Breathe Magic Camp programme:

Do I have to stay with my child?

Angel still has a long way to go but it is amazing how well she has improved...” Sumira, mother of Angel aged 8

No. There is a full team of therapy students, senior therapists, professional magicians and senior Breathe staff on site throughout the day. Many children prefer to learn the new magic tricks and then surprise their parents or siblings in the evenings. Some children may need some support to remember the sequence of activities and attendance for the last 15 minutes may be requested. This will be discussed with you, depending on your child’s needs. Can I just buy a magic kit and help my child learn themselves? Not really. The Breathe Magic programme has been embedded into a therapeutic intervention based on current motor learning theories and research evidence. The practice and repetition of specific and purposively selected movements within task focussed activities has been demonstrated to improve skills for children with hemiplegia when implemented in a 60 hour or 90 hour programme over two or three consecutive weeks, respectively. The specially selected magic tricks are designed to increase the use of the weaker hand and arm. Professional magicians are invaluable in motivating the children and providing the essential skills to perform the tricks to a high standard. My child has already attended a Breathe Magic Camp, will s/he be able to attend the camp again?

Angel’s story Read now

Yes. Please contact one of the team to discuss this further. We also offer a mentoring/work experience programme for a number of previous Breathe Magic Camp graduates each year. To be eligible to apply for the mentoring programme, your child must be aged 15 or over and you should contact the office to discuss this.

FAQs

What research is there that demonstrates that this is an effective therapy programme?

These papers show the effectiveness of the Breathe Magic programme in improving hand function and broader psychosocial benefits: multi-site study of functional A outcomes following a themed approach to hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) for children with hemiplegia. Green D, Schertz M, Gordon A, Moore A, Schejter-Margalit T, Farquharson Y, Be Bashat D, Weinstein M, Lin J-P, Fattal-Valevski A. (2013) Dev Med Child Neurol; 55(6): 527-533. DOI: 10.1111/ dmcn.12113. se of ‘Magic’ as both a performing U art and intensive motor therapy for child with hemiplegia. Green D, Farquharson Y. (2013) Dev Med Child Neurol; 55(S2): 19.

These important reviews of the evidence and guidelines show the overall effect and evidence for task focussed therapy and bimanual interventions:

These papers highlight the benefits of the intensive bimanual intervention programmes:

se of ‘Magic’ as both a performing U art and intensive motor therapy for child with hemiplegia.

Effectiveness of modified constraining-induced movement therapy in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Green D, Farquharson Y. (2013) Dev Med Child Neurol; 55(S2): 19.

Aarts PB, Jonerius PH, Geerdink YA, Van Limbeek J, Geurts A. NeuroRehab Neural Repair 2010; 24: 509-18.

systematic review of interventions A for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence.

Hand and Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremity (HABIT-ILE) in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Trial.

Novak I et al (2013) Dev Med Child Neurol; 55: 855-910.

Bleyenheuft Y, Arnould C, Brandao M, Bleyenheuft C, Gordon, A. (in press) Neurorehab Neural Repair.

ystematic Review and Meta-analysis S of Therapeutic Management of UpperLimb Dysfunction in Children with Congenital Hemiplegia.

The effect of combining daily restraint with bimanual intensive therapy in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: A self-control study.

Sakzewski, L., Ziviani, J., Boyd, R. Pediatrics 2009; 123: e111-e1122. pasticity in children and young S people with non-progressive brain disorders: Management of spasticity and co-existing motor disorders and their early musculoskeletal complications 2012. NICE clinical guideline 145: guidance. nice.org.uk/cg145.

Cohen-Holtzer M, Katz-Leurer M, Reinstein R, Rotem H, Meyer S. NeuroRehabilitaiton 2011; 29: 29-36.

Thanks to the camp, Jack can now feed himself with his weaker hand — something he was unable to manage previously...” Will, father of Jack aged 9

imanual training and constraint-induced movement B therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A randomized trial. Gordon, A.M., Hung, Y-C, Brandao, M., Gerre, C.L., Kuo, H-C., Friel, K., Petra E., Chinnan, A., Charles, J.R. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2011; 25: 692-702. One hand or two? Randomised comparison trial of constraint induced movement therapy and bimanual training on activity outcomes for children with congenital hemiplegia. Sakzewski L, Ziviani J, Abbott D, Macdonell R, Jackson G, Boyd R. Dev Med Child Neurol 2011; 53: 313-320.

Jack’s story Read now

FAQs

It sounds great! How do we sign up? Please complete an expression of interest form and return it to info@breatheahr.org Upon receiving your completed form, a member of the Breathe Magic team will contact will contact you within 6 weeks to discuss your child’s eligibility for the programme. What next?

Learning how to perform magic tricks meant that, for the first time in his life, he could do things which his friends couldn’t even attempt to do...” Kathy, mother of Tristan aged 8

For more information visit www.breatheahr.org or get in touch on 020 3290 2013 info@breatheahr.org Office hours 9.00am-5.30pm

Tristan’s story

Monday-Friday

Read now

If your child is eligible we will contact you to discuss how you can secure a place for your child on the programme. The cost of a place on the Breathe Magic Camp programme is £3200. This cost includes 78 hours of specialist bimanual therapy over a 6 month period. This can be broken down as follows: 60 hours of 1:2:1 therapy over the initial 10 day intensive therapy programme, followed by a further 3 hours per month at our follow-up Saturday clubs. To secure funding for your child’s place on the programme, we recommend contacting your child’s local therapist, paediatrician or GP to ask them to make a funded clinical referral on to the programme. Your GP or child’s local therapist will then need to liaise with your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who will review this request. Please contact the Breathe offices prior to approaching your local GP/therapist so that we can provide you with any information that you may need for this request. We have supporting material and in some cases may have existing relationships with the CCG which could help with your case. In 2014, NHS Lambeth CCG, NHS Wandsworth CCG and NHS West Kent CCG all funded places for local children to attend the Breathe Magic Camp programme. If however you are unable to secure NHS funds, you have the option to independently fund a place for your child to attend the programme or fundraise to secure extra funding. Each year a number of parents successfully fund/fundraise for their child’s place on the programme, and we will be able to support you in these efforts. In the meantime we are working hard to secure funding to offer some subsidised and funded places this on the next camp.

Case Study

Sam Aged 13 from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

Since taking part in the Breathe Magic camp Sam can do lots of things for the first time in his life, such as using a toothbrush, getting dressed for school (including doing up all his buttons), and tying up his shoe-laces — something he’s particularly proud of.

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Elspeth 20

Sam, was born prematurely at six months, and suffered a bleed in his brain which caused the hemiplegia. He was a very poorly baby and spent 12 weeks in intensive care. Now he’s in the top sets for English and Maths and is quite literally, for the first time, grasping life with both hands.

We are amazed at how much more flexible his hand is and how he can use it for more every day activities. He is more confident when out and he is engaging in more social activities.” Jayne, mother of Sam

“One of our main goals was for him to be able to tie his shoelaces without help. It was a really magical moment when he did this for the first time at the camp.” His mum Jayne says. “It’s been very emotional for everyone who knows Sam — we’ve been trying to help him do all of these everyday tasks all his life, so it really is amazing to see the difference in him after just a few days of magic camp. It’s very easy to overcompensate with a disabled child but the Breathe Magic camp was the first time in Sam’s life that people really believed he was capable of getting his hand to function.” It’s also made Jayne realise what Sam is capable of and the family have had to learn to stop automatically helping Sam do things, and ask his friends to stop doing things for him too. Before going on the camp, Sam wore a hand-splint on his affected hand to separate the fingers. Now he doesn’t wear the brace at all, and is still surprising himself by doing new things every day, such as helping his mum put tins of food into the supermarket trolley with his affected hand. “We know that Sam’s hand will never be perfect, but we just can’t believe the difference it has made to him both on a practical, physical level and in terms of his self-belief. It’s been a huge turning point in his life, for which I’m very grateful,” said Jayne.

Josh

Angel

Jack

Tristan 28

Case Study

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She’s already beginning to do more on her own after just a few days at the camp, such as putting a straw in a drink by herself, and she loves practicing the magic tricks.” Seonaid, mother of Elspeth

Elspeth

Sam

Josh

Angel

Jack

Aged 8 from Lambeth, London

Elspeth, 8, was referred to the camp by her local occupational therapist. Her Mum, Seonaid, says she really enjoyed the camp and particularly enjoyed the interaction with the occupational therapists and magicians who have the knack of making everything fun and motivating for the children. “Elspeth does get quite tired, but the occupational therapists and magicians are great at encouraging the children. Despite the fact that what they are learning is quite challenging there is a really positive ‘can do’ atmosphere at the camp. Learning magic tricks is a fantastic way of encouraging the children to practice the hand skills they need for everyday life,” she said. Elspeth who has right-sided hemiplegia, has limited function in her right hand, so simple everyday tasks that require two hands can be difficult, such as doing up buttons or zips, but by the end of the camp she was able to put on her own socks and open a packet of crisps — one of her favourite treats!

Tristan 28

Case Study

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Sam

He’s got a new found independence and determination to do things himself and it’s made me realise that I need to stop doing things automatically for him.” Karen, mother of Josh

Josh Aged 14 from Hindhead, Surrey Elspeth 20 Josh attended the camp at Stepping Stones School, Surrey in summer 2013. He’s always been fascinated by magic and loves Dynamo. Josh has left sided hemiplegia: all the limbs on his left side are a lot tighter, and he sometimes has involuntary spasms. Karen, Josh’s Mum said: “There is a real buzz at Breathe Magic camp — the magicians are really enthusiastic, as well as the staff on the occupational therapy side. Although Josh knew that the camp was to improve his dexterity and mobility, it was primarily about learning magic and having fun. He also connected with one of the junior helpers, a previous participant, which was really great. “He’s now attempting things which he wouldn’t try on his own before — such as cutting up food on his plate. He’s got a new found independence and determination to do things himself and it’s made me realise that I need to stop doing things automatically for him. “He’s keeping up with the practice and he now carries his magical elastic bands and a piece of string around with him in is pocket everywhere he goes in case there’s an opportunity to show somebody his magic tricks.”

Angel

Jack

Tristan 28

Case Study

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Angel Aged 8 from Southwark, London

Angel was born prematurely at 24 weeks, suffering a brain haemorrhage at birth, which caused cerebral palsy and a left-sided hemiplegia. She weighed just 790g and was dependent on a life support machine and her chances of her survival were slim. “Her body was the size of a biro pen,” Angel’s mother Sumira says, reflecting on the roller coaster ride after her daughter’s birth. Eight years later Angel still has very complex medical needs plus asthma and learning difficulties but Sumira can’t stress enough what a difference the Magic Camp made in Angel’s life. “This was a great chance for Angel; all I can say is WOW what a difference it has made for her confidence, all the things ablebodied people take for granted like tying shoelaces or pulling up your own trousers were a constant problem for her.”

All I can say is WOW. What a difference it has made to her confidence!” Sumira, mother of Angel

Sam

Elspeth 20

Josh

The magic camp has addressed an array of Angel’s specific therapy needs from developing fine motor skills to improving social skills and interpersonal behaviour. Since taking part in the camps Angel can do magic tricks with both hands and it makes such a difference in her daily life.

Jack

Sumira was very pleased that the camp provided an opportunity for her to meet other parents in similar situations and exchange experiences and now finds she is able to relate even more to the challenges Angel faces every day, “I think anything is possible whoever you are. Angel still has a long way to go but it is amazing how well she has improved, to see my little girl looking happy.”

Tristan 28

Case Study

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Jack Aged 9 from Hindhead, Surrey

Jack has right-sided hemiplegia which affects the fine motor skills in his upper limb. His right leg is slightly shorter than the left, but he’s still very active, runs and plays sports. He can do most things for himself, but they take much longer to do than most other children; and things like zips on jackets are quite difficult for him. This can be an issue at school where taking longer means he often gets left behind by the other children, although he’s never been bullied. He has some retrieval and processing issues.

His magic has enabled him to hold the attention of his friends and entertain them, and this is great for building his self-esteem — more important, we believe, than improving his physical ailments.” Will, father of Jack

Sam

Elspeth 20

Jack took part in a camp at the Stepping Stones School, in Hindhead, Surrey in summer 2013 and in the camp in London in 2012. Jack’s father, Will, said “He really loved showing off his skills after last year’s camp and especially straight afterwards, when it is very fresh in his mind. The follow up monthly ‘clubs’ run by the Breathe Magic team are a really good idea to help reinforce what they have learnt.” Jack knows that the camp was designed around improving his motor skills but the focus was always about learning magic and having fun rather than doing repetitive exercises. According to his dad, he was “buzzing” from the experience. Will says that taking part in the programme has not only improved Jack’s motor skills further, but also boosted his self-esteem. “Thanks to the camp, Jack can now feed himself with his weaker hand – something he was unable to manage previously. Doing exercises at home is always a chore, but the magic tricks are something which Jack really enjoys doing. The magic doesn’t seem like therapy to the children, it’s actually giving them a talent which the other kids don’t have at school, and that makes a massive difference to their inner confidence.”

Josh

Angel

Tristan 28

Case Study

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Tristan Aged 8 from Worcester Park, Surrey

Tristan has congenital hemiplegia which affects the right side of his body and also a shortening of his calves. He was originally totally paralysed along the whole of his right side but the most visible parts of his disability are his right arm and hand and his right leg — he walks on his toe. Until Tristan attended the Breathe Magic camp he had never come across anybody else with hemiplegia, so the initiative helped him realise that there were other children with the same difficulties. The atmosphere on the camps is very supportive — with the children helping each other to overcome their challenges and learn the tricks. Socially Tristan has gained more confidence thanks to the Breathe Magic experience and he’s more self-empowered now. Thanks to an introduction from the Breathe Magic team, he has now progressed onto a new handstrengthening programme at the Evelina Children’s Hospital led by Amarlie Moore, the Senior Occupational Therapist at Breathe Magic which aims to strengthen his hand muscles and improve his dexterity further.

Now he’s attempting all sorts of things without my help. It’s great to see him have that determination and selfconfidence to be independent.” Kathy, mother of Tristan

Kathy, Tristan’s mum said: “Breathe Magic has had a massive impact on Tristan. Learning how to perform magic tricks meant that, for the first time in his life, he could do things which his friends couldn’t even attempt to do. It also helped him realise that the limb that wasn’t very good could perform tasks which he thought were impossible if he stuck at it. Now he’s attempting all sorts of things without my help, such as putting on a hoodie and zipping it up. He has also been moved up in his reading and writing groups at school due to his new sense of self-belief. As a Mum it’s great to see him have that determination and self-confidence to be independent.”

Sam

Elspeth 20

Josh

Angel

Jack

Meet the team

Meet our team of highly experienced clinicians, magicians and creatives who make the magic happen…

Meet the team

Dr Dido Green

Amarlie Moore

Research Director

Lead Therapist

Dr Dido Green is an internationally recognised Occupational Therapist, Instructor and Academic. Dr Green is Research Director at Breathe and is Reader in rehabilitation at Oxford Brookes University. She has over 20 years of clinical experience working with children and young people and has worked at various world-renowned institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Green has collaborated with many international organisations to research the neuroplasticity of motor learning in rehabilitation, and has focused on the integration of performing arts and creative media into therapy to enhance outcomes. She is a recipient of a number of grants exploring clinical applications of science. Dr Green is responsible for orchestrating the research work at Breathe.

Amarlie Moore is a Clinical Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist, who has been involved in the design and delivery of the Breathe Magic Camps programme since its inception in 2007. Amarlie graduated in Occupational Therapy in Australia in 1998 and has since specialised in working with children and young people with upper limb motor disorders, particularly hemiplegia. Amarlie also specialises in complex pain conditions including complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy as well as functional movement disorders with pain as a central presenting feature. Based at the Evelina Children’s hospital, Amarlie works with a wide range of teams specialising in neurodisability and orthopaedic surgery as well as high dependency and intensive care units, general wards and out-patients.

Meet the team

David Owen

Richard McDougall

Yvonne Farquharson

Lead Magician

Breathe Director

David Owen is a member of the Magic Circle and has been a member since winning Young Magician of The Year when he was a teenager. David has performed and taught magic at corporate and private events around the world as well as appearing on television. He has been involved with Breathe Magic Camps since the start and has played a key role in the programme’s development. He has a lifelong interest in using magic performance skills in other contexts and as a way of empowering individuals and increasing their confidence. This work has led him to be one of the founding Board of Directors at Breathe. In his ‘other’ life David is also a leading commercial arbitrator, mediator and barrister.

Richard McDougall is a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, and a former World Open Champion for Close-Up Magic. He has performed for clients in 30 countries, and has performed for HM The Queen on several occasions, including her Diamond Jubilee private party, which was attended by 40 Kings and Queens. Richard also creates magic for others, most notably for Derren Brown. Richard spends much of his time teaching on the impact of body language, to the business community and has delivered training workshops for some of the largest companies in the world. Most recently he has been working with senior oncologists in Spain and Brazil, teaching them to deliver scientific data more effectively, while also improving awareness and inter-personal skills with their patients.

Yvonne Farquharson has 10 years’ experience working in the creative industries and six years specialist experience designing and delivering innovative arts and health projects within the NHS and community settings. Prior to setting up Breathe, Yvonne worked as Performing Arts Manager at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity (GSTC), the largest NHS Charity in the UK, and in a variety of creative and management roles for the BBC and ITV. She has gained both national and international recognition for her work in the arts and health sector. She has published in health journals, presented at conferences nationally and internationally and has had her work featured in a number of television and radio broadcasts locally, nationally and internationally.

I was incredibly impressed by the miracles worked by this small social enterprise. They tap into the curiosity every child feels about magic to create extraordinary results for disabled children in terms of manual and physical dexterity.” Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health

tive Crea aches ro re App hca ealt H to

h searcorg e r h ealt ahr. arts h breathe . www

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