The Voices of Creative Health

Summary

In this Rewind episode of The Voices of Creative Health, we return to my conversation with Maria from RSTY – The Creative School of Art, as we revisit the importance of young people, creativity and the future of Creative Health.

One of the key themes emerging from the recent Common Ground conference was the importance of planting seeds now to nurture the next generation of the Creative Health workforce. But what does that look like in practice, and how can we make sure young people have opportunities to explore creativity, discover their potential and see themselves as part of this growing field?

Maria's conversation reminds us why investing in young people matters. By creating opportunities for creative expression, learning and exploration, we can begin to build pathways that enable young people to connect with creativity, wellbeing and future creative careers.

Sometimes, the work we do today won't show its full impact for years to come. But every opportunity, every conversation and every seed planted can help shape what comes next.

Because the future of Creative Health starts with the opportunities we create today.

Keywords

Creative Health, Young People, Creative Education, Future Workforce, Creative Careers, Youth Empowerment, Creative Expression, Health and Wellbeing Access to Creativity, Creative Learning, Youth Pathways, The Voices of Creative Health, RSTY-The Creative School of Art, Innovation

Connect with Maria

Website: https://www.rtsythecreativeschoolofart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtsy.thecreativeschoolofart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rtsy.thecreativeschoolofart/

Resources Corner

Funding

Grand Plan Fund

www.grandplanfund.co.uk/

Events

Org: Barnet Council

Event: Light and flight festival

Link:  Light + Flight Festival Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

News

New NCCH introduces a new  Blog series to  Introduce the Creative Health Leads across England.

National Centre for Creative Health

Connect with Jen

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie

Summary

In this conversation, Gay Palmer discusses the formation and mission of ARCH, an initiative aimed at enhancing representation in creative health. We explore the importance of community engagement, the challenges faced in achieving diversity, and the significance of lived experience in shaping creative health practices. Palmer emphasises the need for structural change and the role of allies in fostering an inclusive environment. The conversation also touches on the future goals of Arch and the impact it aims to have on the creative health sector. We explore how creativity can serve as a means of expression and healing, emphasising the need for representation and support for underrepresented artists. The discussion also highlights the significance of play and creativity in personal wellbeing, as well as the potential for policy changes to diversify the future creative health workforce. In this conversation, Gay Palmer shares her insights on navigating spaces as a person of colour, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of building connections and allies. She emphasizes the significance of honouring those who came before and the weight of representation.

Keywords

Arch, creative health, social prescribing, representation, community engagement, lived experience, diversity, inclusion, health equity, arts in health creative health, community, empowerment, wellbeing, creativity, representation, arts, policy, support, imposter syndrome, building connections, confidence, funding, artists

Chapters

00:00 — Meet Gay: A Leader in Creative Health
00:35 — The Importance of Social Prescribing
01:11 — Introducing Arch: Building a Creative Health Movement
05:45 — Representation, Community & Lived Experience
10:20 — What Is Creative Health?
14:51 — Breaking Down Barriers to Creative Health
16:29 — The Future of Arch: Connecting Creatives & Communities
27:02 — Creativity, Play & Personal Wellbeing
30:04 — Finding Your Voice: Confidence, Allies & Belonging
42:06 — Bridging Roles, Communities & Valuing Artists

Connect with Gay  

· Instagram:

· LinkedIn:

Connect with Jen

Email: [email protected]

Instagram:

LinkedIn

Resources Corner

Funding

Org: Harlow Borough Council

Name of the grant: The Public Health Community Grant Fund

Amount: up to £5,000 If you are a single applicant or up to £12,000 for multi partner projects

Link

Events:

Org: SASH London

Event: The Man Behind the Moustache: Creative Writing for Good Health

Date: Thu, Nov 26 

Time 11:00 -1pm

Link

News:

St Margrets House – The home for Creative Health – Bethnal Green

Link

Additional Resources

London Arts and Health – Arch                         

Summary

In this episode, Jen speaks with Penny about the people, relationships and infrastructure that help creative practitioners sustain their work.

Drawing on her portfolio career and her work with the Enfield Culture Network and Enfield of Dreams, Penny explores the importance of community, networks, skills, mentoring and creating opportunities for emerging creatives. They discuss why sustainability requires more than individual resilience; it also depends on time, trust, connection and long-term investment.

Keywords

Enfield Culture Network, creative health, community well-being, arts and culture, emotional well-being, cultural strategy, support for artists, young creatives, community cohesion, mental health creativity, young people, community, Enfield, diversity, inclusion, arts, education, sustainable practices

Connect with Penny: Instagram Instagram2

Connect with Jen: Instagram

Chapters

00:00 — Enfield Culture Network & Creative Health

08:52 — Connecting Creatives, Culture & Community

18:03 — Supporting Artists & Underrepresented Creatives

33:05 — Young Creatives & Enfield of Dreams

38:59 — Sustaining Creativity & Building Community

56:00 — Defining Creative Health

Resources Corner

Funding: Inspire Hounslow Funding (Small Grants)

Link / Email: [email protected]

Events: Breathe Melodies for Dads/ Link

News: The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM)

Creative Practitioner Health and Wellbeing Series Link

Additional Resources

Face Front/ Chicken Shed Theatre Companies

Culture Networks

Haringey Creates

Love Camden

Imagine Islington

Barnet Arts and Culture Network

We Are Lewisham

Enfield of Dreams

Super Slow Way

Edmonton Podcasters Community 1st Event: Wednesday 30th September 5:-6:30@Living Room Library 111 Fore Street N18 2FX

Summary

In this episode of The Voices of Creative Health, I’m joined by Mic D to talk about the making of What Black Men Don’t Say, a documentary exploring prostate cancer and the experiences of Black men.

But this conversation goes beyond the film itself. We explore what can happen when different people, skills and areas of knowledge come together from filmmaking and storytelling to lived experience, healthcare professionals and community leadership.

Mic shares how the documentary grew from an idea into a collaborative project, the importance of representation and trust, and what happened when different perspectives came together around a shared health issue. Because sometimes, the most powerful work happens when we bring our different voices, experiences and skills to the same table.

Chapters

01:03 Prostate Cancer and Black Men
02:37 From Photography to Filmmaking
04:18 The Vision Behind the Film
06:30 Community, Participants and Trust
07:38 What the Documentary Revealed
08:59 Why Representation Matters
10:37 Testing, Misconceptions and Barriers
12:02 The Power of Community Spaces
13:14 Lived Experience and Emotional Impact
14:26 What's Next for the Documentary
16:09 Early Detection and Community Awareness
25:37 Mic D's Legacy and Future Projects

Connect with Mic D

Facebook

Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jen

Email: [email protected]

Instagram:

LinkedIn

Resources Corner

Funding

Hackney Giving Grant

Link

Events

Org: British Academy

Event Name: Art Club: how creativity keeps us well

Date: November 3rd, 2026

Time 3-6pm

Link

News

Culture health and wellbeing Alliance (CHWA) and London Arts and Health LAH Black History Month Callout for Creative Health Practitioners and Social Justice Advocates

Link

Additional Resources

Errol Mckellar Foundation

Cancer Black Care

Prostate Cancer UK

Summary

In this episode, Dan shares his journey from participant to practitioner, exploring innovative community-based creative health projects at the Amelia Scott. Discover how creative activities like Dungeons and Dragons can foster wellbeing, inclusivity, and community resilience.

Keywords

creative health, community spaces, Dungeons and Dragons, wellbeing, inclusive practices, Amelia Scott, mental health, arts in community, creative workshops, social impact

Connect with Dan

Instagram

Chapters

00:00 — From Participant to Practitioner
00:53 — The Amelia Scott: A Space for Creative Health
08:27 — The Role of Community Spaces
12:30 — Dungeons & Dragons as Creative Health
18:14 — The Impact of Role-Playing Games
20:50 — Building Sustainable & Inclusive Communities
23:23 — Lessons from Facilitating Dungeons & Dragons
28:29 — Choice & Evaluating Creative Health
30:20 — Sustaining the Creative Health Workforce
33:23 — What Does Creative Health Mean to You?

Resources

Funding

Greenwich Healthier Communities Fund - Micro Grant

Deadline: 14th December 2026

Amount £500 - £5,000

Link: Micro Grants - Groundwork

Events

Event Name: Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health

Date: 5th October

Link: Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health Tickets, Monday 5 October  •  7 PM - 8:30 PM | Eventbrite

News

NCCH - Creative Health Research Round-Up 2026

Deadline: 11:59pm on Sunday 13th December 2026.

National Centre for Creative Health

Additional Resources

Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale

Daniel’s Episode: From Participant to Creative Health Practitioner Creative Health | The Amelia Scott

NCCH_RSPH-Creative-Health-Research-Round-Up-2025.pdf

National Centre for Creative Health

Charlies Angels

Dungeons and Dragons for Women at The Amelia

Connect with Jen

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie

Summary

In this episode, I speak with Dr Jane Hearst about sustaining the creative health workforce. We explore the role of the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH), the importance of belonging, diversity and lived experience, and the evolving landscape of creative health roles.

Keywords

Creative Health, Workforce Sustainability, NCCH, Policy, , Belonging, Diversity,

Chapters

00:00 Sustaining Creative Health

02:57 Jane Hearst & NCCH

08:57 People, Belonging & Inclusion

24:02 Lived Experience & Community

30:06 Building a Sustainable Workforce

49:30 Systems, Funding & The Future

Connect with Jane

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

NCCH

LinkedIn (NCCH)

YouTube (NCCH)

Bluesky (NCCH)

Resources Corner

Funding

Org: Laughology

Link: Happiness Fund | Laughology

Events

Org: Southwark Culture Health & Wellbeing Partnership (SCHWeP)

Link: SCHWeP September network event Tickets, Tuesday, September 29  •  9:30 AM - 1 PM | Eventbrite

News

Janes book

Creative Health in Systems: The People, Priorities, and Challenges Sha

Discount code: 26SME3 

Additional Resources

Young Leaders for Arts and Health

National Centre for Creative Health

Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance

LENs - Lived Experience Network

Creating Mental wellbeing Podcast

The Creative Medicine Podcast

Creative Health Stories with Laura Bailey

Anti Racism in Creative Health

Jen

Instagram

LinkedIn

Summary

In this conversation, we speak with Jane Willis and explore the intersection of creativity and health, discussing Jane's personal journey in creative health, the importance of supporting practitioners, and the emotional labour involved in creative work. Jane emphasises the need for safe spaces, community support, and the role of mentoring and coaching in fostering creativity and well-being.

Keywords

Creative Health, Emotional Wellbeing, Mentoring, Coaching, Community Support, Reflective Practice, Emotional Labour, Safe Spaces, Creative Outlets, Personal Journey supervision, reflective practice

Connect with Jane Willis

• Instagram: Jane_willis_bristol
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-willis/
• A Place To Write (Jane’s weekly co-writing sessions) https://www.janewillis.co.uk/reflective-co-writing

  Coaching with Jane Willis

•  https://www.janewillis.co.uk/finding-your-way

Resources Corner

Fund: Haringey Unearthed

Link: Haringey Unearthed | Haringey London Borough Culture 2027

Events

Name of Event: Creative Industries Festival 2026

Link: Creative Industries Festival 2026 - General Admission Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

Name of Event: ARCH Webinar: Cultural Contagion - Time, Being and Ill-being

Link: ARCH Webinar: Cultural Contagion - Time, Being and Ill-being Tickets, Wednesday, September 9  •  1 PM - 2 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite

 News

Creative Health Inclusive Wandsworth  Community  Network (CHIC)

Link to membership: CHIC (Creative Health Inclusive Community) Network- membership sign up

Additional information :

Launch Event:

Link: Creative Health Inclusive Community Wandsworth Network - St Georges Hospital Charity

Additional Resources

Training | CHWA

Creative Health Quality Framework

Connect with Jen    

Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie                                            

Content note: This episode touches briefly on mental health and a difficult personal experience. Please take care while listening.

Summary

What happens when someone who has experienced the transformative power of creativity and art goes on to become a creative health practitioner?

In this episode of The Voices of Creative Health, Daniel shares his inspiring journey from participant to practitioner, reflecting on how creativity, community and lived experience shaped his path into creative health.

Daniel reflects on the importance of feeling seen, finding purpose, and how his own experiences now inform the way he supports others. His story is a powerful reminder that lived experience can become a source of strength, empathy and leadership within the creative health workforce.

As part of our Season 2 theme, Sustaining the Creative Health Workforce, this conversation explores one of the many pathways into creative health and celebrates the value that people with lived experience bring to the sector.

Keywords

Creative health, community, wellbeing, art therapy, mental health, creative practice, community engagement, mental health support, creative health workforce, personal growth, pathways

Connect With Dan

Instagram: Instagram

Resources Corner

Funding

Organisation: Culture Croydon

Name of Grant: Croydon Loves You 2026 – Round 2

Deadline: September 17th 5pm

Link: Croydon Loves You 2026 - Culture Croydon %

Additional Information:

Croydon Loves you 2026 Q&A Session

Tuesday 3rd September 2-3pm

Virtual

Link to register Croydon Loves You 2026 Q&A Session

Events

Organisation: School of Arts & Creative Industries

Name of Event: Creative Health in Newham: From Citizen Voice to Neighbourhood Delivery

Date: Friday 4th September

Time: 10:00 -1pm

Location: Docklands campus Living Library

Cost: Free

Link: Creative Health in Newham: From Citizen Voice to Neighbourhood Delivery Tickets, Friday, September 4  •  10 AM - 1 PM | Eventbrite

News

Creative Health training, with Culture Croydon

Creative Health Quality Framework Workshop 3

Date: Tuesday 8th September

Time: 10:00 -12:00

Virtual

Free

Link to register and find when there are more training offers

Creative Health Training - Culture Croydon

Please note: Training is available to people working in creative health in Croydon

Additional Resources

 West Kent Mind

West Kent Mind Home - West Kent Mind

Mind

We're Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

Summary

Jen interviews Dr Louise Baxter about her journey into creative health and the Creative Health Masters at UCL. They explore health inequalities, community assets, wellbeing and interdisciplinary learning, alongside student diversity, barriers to education and improving access. Louise also shares insights into teaching, dissertation supervision and the importance of community and reflection in creative health practice.

Keywords

Creative Health, Health Inequalities, Community Assets, Education, Masters Program, Interdisciplinary, Arts and Health, Mental Wellbeing, Research Methods, Diversity, Community, Funding, Career Pathways, Practical Learning, Infrastructure, Future of Creative Health, Overcoming Barriers

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Louise’s Journey
04:08 Creative Health & Health Inequalities
08:04 The Creative Health MASc at UCL
23:02 Access, Careers & the Creative Health Workforce
39:51 The Future of Creative Health Education

Connect with Louise

Instagram: @uclcreativehealth

Resources Corner

Funding

Organisation: Access Sport

Link: Apply to AIPFF | Access Sport

Organisation: Aldi

Aldi Sport Fund - England and Wales

Link: SportsFund | ALDI UK

Events

Org: Big Penny Social

Decoupage Workshop Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

News

CHWA – 2026 Conference in Barnsley

Link: Common Ground: CHWA Conference 2026 Tickets, Wednesday 7 October-Friday 9 October  •  2 PM-1 PM | Eventbrite

Bursary

Link: CHWA Conference 2026: Bursary Opportunity - deadline 7 September | CHWA

Volunteering Opportunity

CHWA Conference 2026: Common Ground - Join our Volunteer Team! | CHWA

Additional Resources

Creative Health MASc | Prospective Students Graduate - UCL – University College London

UCL East London Scholarship | UCL Scholarships and funding - UCL – University College London

National Centre for Creative Health

Roro Episode 5:       

Instagram

Contact Jen

Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

Jen About Town

Episode 3: Discovering Creative Health Education: What Opportunities Are Out There?

Summary

In this episode, Jen explores the growing opportunities available for people wanting to learn more about creative health. She reflects on the importance of education, professional development and accessible learning pathways in supporting a growing and evolving field.

Jen shares an overview of her research exploring creative health educational resources across the UK, highlighting the range of opportunities available, from different levels of study and formats to varying time commitments and costs. This episode explores why creating opportunities to learn, develop and connect is an important part of sustaining the creative health workforce.

Keywords

Creative Health, Education, Workforce Development, Resources, UK, Dissertation, Learning Opportunities, Creative Practice, Professional Development, Accessibility

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jennifer Leslie and the episode

02:02 Jennifer's personal creative health journey and recent activities

04:01 Overview of her dissertation on creative health educational resources

05:59 Findings from mapping 42 creative health resources across the UK

07:55 The importance of education for a sustainable creative health workforce

09:50 Details of two free online educational resources for creative health

11:53 Reflections on the future of creative health education and closing thoughts

Additional Resources

Mood Body Studios

Instagram

Short UCL Courses

Arts, Culture and Heritage: Understanding their complex effects on our health | Short courses - UCL – University College London

Culture, Health and Wellbeing: An Introduction | Short courses - UCL – University College London

Jen’s details

Connect with Jen

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie