A series of sensory workshops exploring the scents, stories and nostalgia of Hartlepool through the blending of tea, has brought a moment of calm and connection to staff and visitors at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.
Led by the Museum of Hartlepool and supported by the University Hospitals Tees arts council, the ‘Time for Tea’ sessions invited participants to explore the history of tea and its links to Hartlepool through smell, taste and storytelling.
The workshops were designed to promote wellbeing, spark conversation, and offer a mindful escape from the usual day-to-day of a bustling hospital environment.
The event included a public drop-in session in the hospital’s main concourse, followed by four dedicated workshops for staff within the Health and Social Care Academy and on Ward 4.
Participants were guided by Miki Rogers, an experienced arts facilitator and tea blender, who encouraged attendees to reflect on personal memories and local heritage through tea blending.
Blending heritage with wellbeing
The workshops offered a unique opportunity for staff to pause, reflect and connect with their local heritage in a hands-on way. Participants were invited to create their own tea blends inspired by Hartlepool’s identity, with each scent and ingredient chosen to evoke personal and collective memories. Freya Purcell, Esmee Fairbairn funded project curator at the Museum of Hartlepool, helped to organise the sessions.
The workshops were part of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Tides of Change project which is supported by a development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said: “I’m delighted that the event was such a success and the workshops sparked conversations from people around nostalgic smells and memories, with both staff and visitors getting involved in these novel, sensory-based wellbeing workshops.
We were very pleased to be part of this project with the University Hospital of Hartlepool and we would once again like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for the funding we’ve received which helped make this possible.”
A moment of calm in a busy day
Teresa Pounder, education lead and one of the staff members who attended a session, shared her feedback: “The session was engaging, informative and wonderfully interactive. It offered everyone involved a fascinating insight into our local heritage.
“Smelling the teas evoked some beautiful memories of my own childhood as a proud Hartlepudlian. It transported me from my daily working environment into a mindful and thought-provoking escape and it was a really appreciated experience to get involved in.”
The ‘Time for Tea’ sessions are part of University Hospitals Tees’ ongoing commitment to supporting staff wellbeing and creating meaningful connections between healthcare and the arts. The project was developed in partnership with the arts councils’ members and the Museum of Hartlepool.