A unique creative therapy programme at Havens Hospices is helping people explore their life stories, express themselves creatively and find comfort through the companionship of therapy dogs.
The Kaleidoscope of Life programme is facilitated by Pets As Therapy (PAT) volunteer Andrew Armitage and Creative Therapists from Havens Hospices. It brings together hospice service users for a series of group art sessions designed to encourage reflection, conversation and creative expression.
The programme has been running for four years and takes place twice a year, with participants attending weekly sessions over five weeks. Alongside the creative activities, Andrew’s PAT dogs, Scarlett and Rosa, play an important role in helping people feel relaxed and connected.
Andrew, who lives in Sudbury, Suffolk and has volunteered with PAT since 2018, said: “The sessions are very much participant-led. There isn’t a set theme or a right or wrong way to take part. People use art to explore their own life journey and experiences in whatever way feels right for them.
“The dogs are often wonderful icebreakers. People tell stories about pets they’ve had throughout their lives, and sometimes simply having a dog beside them helps them feel comfortable enough to join the conversation. Those small moments of connection can make a real difference.”
Scarlett, a fox red Labrador, has been a PAT dog since she was two-and-a-half years old and is now 10. Rosa, also a fox red Labrador, joined the programme several years ago. Together they provide companionship, comfort and opportunities for interaction throughout the sessions.
Andrew first became involved with PAT following his retirement after a career in higher education. Having previously seen the value of creative approaches to learning and wellbeing, he recognised the potential for combining art and animal-assisted support within a hospice setting.
Andrew added: “Whether I’m visiting the hospice, Anglia Ruskin University, Stansted Airport or hospitals in Cambridgeshire, I see the same thing time and time again – dogs have an incredible ability to break down barriers and bring people together. During the Kaleidoscope of Life sessions, Scarlett and Rosa often spark conversations, memories and moments of connection that might not otherwise happen. Those little moments of magic are what volunteering with Pets As Therapy is all about.”
Across the UK, more than 6,200 Pets As Therapy volunteers visit over 6,600 schools, hospitals, care homes and community settings, supporting more than 631,000 people each year. Last year alone, around 133,000 visits took place, creating millions of small but meaningful moments of connection – helping to lift moods, reduce anxiety and ease loneliness.
Living with an incurable condition affects more than physical health. At Fair Havens, Havens Hospices’ adult hospice, a range of supportive therapies help people process their experiences, maintain their sense of self, and find meaning throughout their journey. Kaleidoscope of Life is one of those therapies — encouraging self-reflection, reducing stress, sparking creativity and promoting gratitude, helping people rediscover joy, broaden their perspective and express what truly matters in their lives.
Lizzie Ireland, Creative Therapist at Havens Hospices, said: “When Andrew and I first developed Kaleidoscope of Life, the idea was to reflect the many different layers of a person’s life — just as a kaleidoscope brings together fragments to make something whole. The sessions are very much led by the people taking part. Creative expression gives people a way to communicate things that can be difficult to put into words, and we’ve seen what a difference that can make — both for the people we care for and for the connections they form with each other.”
Terry, who attends Fair Havens, said: “Creativity is not one of my strengths, but Kaleidoscope of Life has inspired me. I have enjoyed doing things that I didn’t think I could do, and I have learnt to be positive about all the things I enjoy, despite not being able to do them as I used to.”
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Published 16th July 2026
