About Us
Fruit Fly Collective has is a small core team of scientists and artists who collaborate with a range of people from other sectors, depending on the project being delivered and the expertise required.
Our collaborators include scientific researchers, visual artists, medics, photographers, academics, nurses, animators, clinical psychologists, theatre set designers, science communicators, schools, actors, counsellors, parents, families, textile designers, public health workers, app developers, local government workers, youth groups, communities, children and young people.
Our Aim
To provide evidence-based practical solutions to problems that primarily surround the communication and understanding of health, using creative practices.
In 2013 we began running a science and art course in a primary school, using puppetry to teach 10 year olds about the immune system and vaccination. We realised that we wanted to do more challenging work which would have a greater impact on those who would benefit from it. After much research we decided that we wanted to support families who are affected by cancer by increasing both the child’s and their carer’s understanding of the disease. We quickly received both support and funding for this project, and since then it has evolved into a movement where a positive change in clinical practices is possible.
We now work with schools, hospital trusts, charity communities and local authorities, and have broadened our work to explore resilience building and mental health education for children.
Our future objective is to continue to support the groups we are working with by finding new methods of creative intervention, as well as looking at how our society can be changed to support them to a greater degree.
Listening to children and families talk about the positive impact our products and services have had on them, during difficult periods of their lives, is an incredible reward and fuels our drive for success.