Last week, representatives from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) had the pleasure of viewing some incredible artwork and poetry, created by students from a number of schools within the Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT), to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday.

The competition was run within VIAT’s five primary schools and within two of their three secondary schools, with younger children being invited to design and write a birthday card for the NHS and older students to create a piece of artwork or poetry celebrating the health service.

Winners were presented with certificates at an exhibition on Monday at Valley Park School in Maidstone, by MTW Chairman, David Highton and Joint CEO of VIAT, Vic Ashdown.

MTW Chairman, David Highton, said: “The standard of the work was absolutely incredible and it was a wonderful way to help celebrate 70 years of the NHS. The amount of work all the students, from the youngest to the oldest, had put into the competition was outstanding and we can’t thank the schools and the teachers enough for their efforts and involvement. It has been great to work with the schools in our local community and a really poignant way to remind everyone of the impact the NHS has had and continues to have on all of our lives, in one way or another.”

Richard Hayden, HR Director at VIAT, said: “Our vision is to provide outstanding education at the heart of our local community so it was important that we joined in the NHS70 celebrations and supported the incredible staff at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. They provide an invaluable service to our local community. The creative work that has been done by our students has been fantastic and I hope, when displayed, will provide a helpful distraction to patients and loved ones when visiting the hospitals.”

It is hoped that in the coming weeks, some of the artwork produced for the competition will be put on display at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.
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