An arts therapy charity that has been operating for 16 years has announced it is to close “due to an extremely challenging funding climate”.

The Teapot Trust to conclude its current therapy commitments and has “made the difficult decision” to ask the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to dissolve the charity.

Since it launched it has supported more than 16,000 children and young people living with chronic illness and their families in hospitals and the community.

“Our role has been an impactful one in children’s journeys, providing creative space where they could explore, express, and make sense of their experiences of illness and treatment,” said the charity’s trustees in a statement.

“With our partners, we responded to real needs, pioneering innovative approaches to art therapy, helping children overcome needle phobia and cope with complex treatment regimes.”

The charity also offers free art therapy resources for families to use globally. These will remain available at its website, which will be live until the end of the year before it is archived.

The charity’s legacy also continues at Glasgow Children’s Hospital where it has a garden to support children’s health and wellbeing. This won a gold award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023.

The charity trustees added “We would like to thank everyone who has been part of Teapot Trust’s journey over the past 16 years.”

The charity's latest accounts filed with the OSCR show that its spending has exceeded its income in two of the last five years.

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