Professional clowns for hospitalized children

Eight hospital clown organizations join forces in a European federation.

An umbrella body representing hospital clown organizations with professionally trained clowns in European healthcare has been created. With eight founding members, the creation of the Brussels-based European Federation of Hospital Clown Organizations (EFHCO) symbolizes the rise in hospital clowning and the burgeoning role of humor and laughter in the health environment.

EFHCO’s inaugural associates are drawn from hospital clown groups across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.  The aim of this not-for-profit group is to raise awareness of professional clown work in healthcare, spreading the word to both the general public and healthcare professionals, whilst allowing members to share best practice and working methods.

Since being pioneered by Michael Christensen in USA, hospital clowning has rapidly gathered global momentum. By bringing humor, solace and laughter into hospitals, hospices, residential and respite care, hospital clowns have been found to boost the resistance and willpower of their patients, whether young children or geriatric patients.
Monica Culen, co-founder of Red Noses Clowndoctors Austria and chair of EFHCO, said: ”The formation of EFHCO is in many ways the coming of age of hospital clowns and this innovative approach to healthcare. We’ve brought together some of the most professional organizations to promote the industry, swap information, share success stories and ensure that artistic development across all our programs maintains its excellence.” It’s increasingly important that our organizations unite and share their work. We’re all delivering amazing work in our various countries and now we’ll have a platform to share our experiences and effectively give hospital clowning a cohesive voice across Europe.”

All told, the eight organizations employ 404 clowns, visit 412 healthcare establishments in 172 cities and reach 459,721 children and elderly persons a year. All hospital clowns across member organizations are vetted professional performers who undergo specialist training to work with children and adults in care institutions.

EFHCO expects to unite most of the important European organizations within the next four years.  Once prospects meet the joining criteria, they’ll then benefit from exchanging knowledge such as working and training methods, fundraising insight, research results and an online research library.

Furthermore, the Federation will represent its members by applying for grants on joint research and training opportunities, as well as organizing workshops and conferences and creating pan-European working groups.

www.efhco.eu