Our Story
Where it all began
Hearts & Minds was co-founded by Magdalena Schamberger and Morven Maclean in 1997 and was the first arts-in-health organisation to introduce a Clowndoctor programme based on The Big Apple Circus concept of hospital clowning to Scotland.
Magdalena Schamberger was aware of Clowndoctors initiatives and organisations from her native Austria and in other countries across Europe. These artists were using performance, improvisation, and clowning in their theatre practice. To become hospital clowns, they undertook specialist training learning how to use their clowning skills to benefit young people in hospital. Magdalena and Morven gathered a group of five artists and, along with Magdalena, they trained to be the first group of Hearts & Minds Clowndoctors.
Magdalena convinced 5 hospitals to allow Clowndoctors by donning a red nose and giving them a first-hand experience of the idea and that led to Clowndoctors starting in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Rachel House Children’s Hospice.
The programme was launched in 1999. The group of artists took on the characters of doctors wearing red noses and yellow doctor coats and chose memorable and funny names to make the children smile and laugh.
The charity Hearts & Minds was born!
Magdalena Schamberger continued as Artistic Director and CEO until the end of December 2017. During this time, she was part of the founding of EFHCO of which there are now twenty member organisations across Europe. In 2025, Magdalena was appointed as an Ambassador for EFHCO, an honour which recognises her long-standing contribution to healthcare clowning across Europe.
The Clowndoctors
In 1999, we started our Clowndoctor Programme and began working in collaboration with Yorkhill Children’s Hospital (now Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow), Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital (now Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh) and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). The Clowndoctors still visit these three locations along with other hospitals across Scotland, visiting babies, children, and young people with short-term, long-term, and sometimes life-limiting conditions.
We still aim to reduce anxieties, promote social interaction and provide inclusive play for all. Following on from the Clowndoctors in Hospitals, a programme was created in collaboration with The Royal Blind School, Edinburgh and Beatlie School in Livingston, to work with children who attend schools for children with complex needs. This schools programme has now expanded to include other schools across Scotland.
We work with staff, using clown to support the curriculum and to encourage communication and social engagement.
In 2022 we began a new programme called The Welcoming Committee at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. This programme was created alongside parents and staff to deliver a bespoke version of the Clowndoctors for babies in Neonates and their families, using clown to reduce anxieties and to encourage relaxation and play in Neonates.
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The Elderflowers
In 2001 the Elderflower Programme was designed by Magdalena Schamberger in collaboration with Borders Hospital and Stirling University Dementia Services Development Centre, to bring the benefits of clowning that was successful with children, to people living with dementia and dementia-related conditions. This programme was unique to the UK at the time.
The therapeutic clown artists underwent specialist training to develop their skills in communication and engagement with people living with dementia. The Elderflowers still regularly visit Borders General Hospital along with residential care facilities across Scotland, supporting individuals' sense of identity, finding connections and encouraging inclusive and playful participation.
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Clowns around the World
Healthcare clowning is an internationally recognised performing arts and health practice. There are Healthcare Clowning Organisations all over the world and we are delighted to be a member of the European Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organisations (efhco), an umbrella group that supports organisations across Europe.
Behind the Nose
