Creative Health Havering is a network of local grassroots community organisations, third sector services and medical professionals exploring opportunities around social prescribing and the benefit of arts activity for health and wellbeing. 

Havering is a rapidly changing community and experiences many of the health and social inequalities of an outer-London borough. Creative Health Havering is coming together to help tackle these inequalities through moving away from an exclusively medical model of care towards a more community-based, person-centred approach, which brings together the expertise and experience from all parts of the cultural community and health care system. 

Since its formation in October 2022, the network has explored a series of ambitions, including:

  • How we better communicate the offer across Havering
  • How we learn from best practice of other boroughs
  • What opportunities there are to share training and CPD to promote best practice
  • What an increased offer for children & young people could look like
  • How we widen the offer for older people
  • How we can best support health inequalities in the borough 

The first event was hosted on National Social Prescribing Day, an annual celebration which recognises social care workers, local community groups, and organisations which support people’s health and wellbeing. We showcased local activity, demonstrating the positive impact it can have on people’s health and wellbeing. The event saw representatives from over 20 organisations meet to network, start conversations, and experience first-hand some of the activities already on offer, including Therapeutic art demonstrated by Di’s Diamonds, inclusive drama activities showcased by Habbit Factory, a sing-a-long with the Upminster Dementia Choir and Tiny Plays creative writing workshop hosted by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

The partnership is currently developing a three year programme of activity in response to research, which will build on the early success of its pilot year. 

The Creative Health Havering network is open to anyone, including artists, organisations, healthcare providers and researchers. To find out more, get in touch via Communities@queens-theatre.co.uk

 

The Creative Health Havering members are:

·         Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering

·         Alzheimer’s Society, London Borough of Havering

·         Anna Robinson– Health Coach and Mindfulness and Pain Management teacher and Director, Happy Body Happy Mind

·         Clarion Futures Communities

·         Councillor Jacqueline McArdle

·         Deborah Hardy – Behavior Therapist, Learning Mentor, Alternative Holistic Health Service

·         Habbit Factory

·         Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association

·         Havering Crest Primary Care Network

·         Havering Local Area Coordinators

·         Havering Volunteer Centre

·         Healthwatch Havering 

·         Joan-Albert Serra – Music, Arts and Education Consultant and Researcher

·         London Borough of Havering Culture & Leisure

·         London Borough of Havering Education Services

·         London Borough of Havering Housing

·         London Borough of Havering Public Health

·         My Health Matters

·         MyPlace Youth and Community Centre

·         NHS North East London Health and Care Partnership

·         Paint Wellbeing

·         Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch