National Lottery Awards for All Creative Health Projects at Arts Derbyshire

Over the last two months, we have delivered two fantastic Creative Health projects as part of our Creatives in Place pilot programme, bringing creative wellbeing activities to communities in Wirksworth and Erewash.

Thanks to funding from National Lottery Awards for All, we have been able to work with local partners to deliver engaging, accessible creative activities designed to support health and wellbeing.

Music and Memory Matinees at Hannage Brook Medical Centre

In Wirksworth, our Music and Memory Matinees at Hannage Brook Medical Centre created opportunities for connection, reminiscence and shared experiences in a welcoming and supportive environment. District Musicians and Arts Derbyshire’s Creative Health team teamed up to deliver a series of workshops across June and July. People living with dementia and their carers experienced the power and connection of shared music making, and members of surgery staff dropped in too. Delph Massey, Community Care Co-Ordinator and Rachel Metcalfe, Social Prescriber, made links with the group that we hope will lead to improved health and wellbeing outcomes for everyone. The group will continue into the future, watch this space!

Erewash Wellbeing Tasters

We also delivered a series of Erewash Wellbeing Tasters at Our Crafty Place, Erewash Museum and Gardens, and Ilkeston Contemporary Arts. These sessions gave local Erewash residents the opportunity to try a range of creative and wellbeing activities, while building confidence, discovering new interests and strengthening community connections and networks.

The programme included:

• Welcome Session – with Beth, our Creative in Place lead for Erewash, at Our Crafty Place.
• Creative Gardening – with Susan at Erewash Museum & Gardens, exploring the wellbeing benefits of getting creative outdoors.
• Junk Journalling – with the team at Our Crafty Place, creating space for creativity, reflection and conversation.
• Uplifting Music – with Gemma at Ilkeston Contemporary Arts, bringing people together through the joy of music.
• Wellbeing Walk – with Susie along the Erewash Canal, starting from Our Crafty Place and combining gentle activity with connection to the local environment.

Together, these tasters offered a welcoming introduction to the many ways that creativity, culture, nature and connection can support our wellbeing.It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm, creativity and connections that have grown through both projects. These activities demonstrate the positive role that arts and creativity can play in supporting healthier, happier communities.

We would like to thank everyone who took part, as well as our fantastic local partners, for helping to make these projects such a success.

Our projects were made possible thanks to National Lottery players.