4 days ago
The charity bringing joy, creativity and culture to young lives
Helene Hugel, founder and CEO of Helium Arts, explores the work of the Irish charity that brings creativity and joy to children and young people aged 6–16 living with lifelong physical health conditions.
Imagine being a child or teenager living with a lifelong physical health condition—hospital visits, daily medications, missing out on school or playdates. You're not just living with the condition—you start to feel defined by it, explaining it over and over at every new activity. Now imagine someone handing you a paintbrush or a camera and saying, "Go ahead, create something amazing." That's the kind of transformation Helium Arts brings to life.
Helium Arts is a national charity in Ireland that supports children and teenagers aged 6–16 with health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, spina bifida, heart conditions, juvenile arthritis,rare diseases and more. Through free creative workshops in communities, hospitals, and online, Helium offers these young people a way to build confidence, make friends, and most importantly—have fun.
Led by professional artists and supported by volunteers and medical staff, these workshops are more than just arts and crafts. They're safe, welcoming spaces where young people can be themselves, explore their creativity, build confidence, and make real connections with others who understand what they're going through.
Art becomes a powerful way to connect. It helps build mental well-being, a sense of belonging, and even a bit of joy during tough times.
In Ireland, over 156,000 children and teenagers live with long-term health conditions. Many experience isolation or are excluded from typical social activities. Helium Arts is working to change that, especially through their growing work in the area of inclusion health—an approach that tackles barriers faced by disadvantaged children. Research shows that children from these backgrounds are three times more likely to have their lives impacted by their conditions.*
Art becomes a powerful way to connect. It helps build mental well-being, a sense of belonging, and even a bit of joy during tough times. Parents often say that after attending a Helium workshop, their child comes home happier, more confident, and excited about something new—sometimes for the first time in a while.
This spirit of creativity and resilience is captured in Journeys, Helium Arts' latest exhibition. Featuring artwork by children and teenagers in the programme, the exhibition celebrates the journeys of these young artists as they create their own paths in life – reminding us that a journey isn't only about where it leads, but also about the stories it tells along the way.
The exhibition is now open in Ennis and coming soon to Dublin, and as part of Cruinniú na nÓg on 7th June, there'll be free workshops and open studios where families can drop in, get creative, and see firsthand what Helium is all about.
At its heart, we believe every child deserves to feel creative, included, and proud of who they are. Through the power of art, Helium is helping young people shine—even in the face of big challenges.
