Creative Health & Wellbeing: Case studies
Our country is full of creative and cultural projects that improve the health and wellbeing of people and their communities.
The world of Creative Health
The world of Creative Health
The case studies below are just a snapshot of some of the amazing work by creative and cultural practitioners within the health and social care sector. To read more case studies, take a look at some of the key organisations working in this field:
Case studies
Regeneration
Regeneration is a joint initiative between Southampton Hospitals Charity, Theatre for Life, and local creative and cultural practitioners that helps 11 to 25-year-olds with a long-term medical condition engage with creativity, culture, nature, and physical activity. The project aims to reduce isolation and help participants meet other young people, giving them a sense of belonging and enabling them to have peer support.
Watch participant Joe’s vlog about his Regeneration photography and music classes.
The Beaney Museum
The Beaney Museum
The Beaney is a pioneering therapeutic museum with an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. The museum works in partnership with health and social care organisations to create accessible and enjoyable activities with its building and collections. Their projects include ‘Sensing Culture’: an art workshop for people with sight loss. Read about The Beaney Museum, four of its projects, and how participants think creativity improves their wellbeing.
The Power of Music
The Power of Music
The Power of Music project by UK Music and Music for Dementia surveyed over 200 people and spoke with thought leaders from the creative and cultural and health and social care sectors.
The report demonstrates how music can improve health and wellbeing, and provides recommendations for future work.
Read about the benefits of music and the results of the survey in the Power of Music report by UK Music and Music for Dementia.
Art at Ashgate
Art at Ashgate
Ashgate Hospice’s Artist in Residency project connected their patients and their family and friends with professional artists in order to be creative and make art. This gave patients a positive distraction and focus during their end of life care, and supported artists as they developed their understanding of working in a palliative care setting.
Listen to Ashgate Hospice’s Artist in Residence Fi Burke explain how Art at Ashgate helps patients and their loved ones.
Slough CVS
Slough CVS
Slough CVS works with local creative organisations and practitioners, as well as the local health service, to provide social prescribing activities for those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, isolation, and loneliness. Our Thriving Communities Fund Programme Manager, Dulcie Alexander, visited Slough CVS to learn about their work. Read about her experience taking part in creative activities and talking to participants.
Mental wellbeing, reading and writing
Mental wellbeing, reading and writing
The National Literacy Trust’s research report explores how children and young people’s mental wellbeing is related to their reading and writing experiences.
The National Literacy Trust report found that children who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than children who are the least engaged.
Heeley Trust
Heeley Trust
Through a programme of creative activities including crafting workshops, drama classes, and sensory spaces created in partnership with local creative organisations and practitioners, Heeley Trust’s Thriving Communities project helped 1500 participants improve their mental and physical wellbeing by reconnecting people with their own creativity, nature, and each other.
Hear how taking part in activities with Heeley Trust has helped one volunteer build their confidence, learn new skills, and look forward to the future.
Paintings in Hospitals
Paintings in Hospitals
Paintings in Hospitals aims to inspire better health for patients, carers, and communities by providing artwork loans and creative activities to health and social care environments. Find out more about how Paintings in Hospitals supports two million people every year with art and creativity.
Hatsumi Health
Hatsumi Health
Hatsumi design studio’s award-winning pilot project uses art making in a virtual reality environment to help patients express pain and emotion.
The experience aims to improve patient doctor communication and enhance public understanding of invisible experiences.
Canal & River Trust
Canal & River Trust
Canal & River Trust supports positive health and wellbeing for people in the Midlands through physical activity, heritage projects, and creativity, including photography courses, arts classes, and cooking lessons.
Learn about how social prescribing with Canal & River Trust is helping people build their confidence, improve wellbeing, and grow communities.
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