Salford Creative Health Network

In Salford we believe that our health and wellbeing is improved by connecting with culture, creativity and heritage.

Creative health recognises the link between wellbeing and the arts – whether that’s drawing or diamond art, cheerleading or cookery, making music or visiting museums. Whether creativity happens at home, or in a community or healthcare setting – in Salford we know that the arts improve how we feel: they prevent illness, support recovery, strengthen social connections and reduce health inequalities.

As Professor Daisy Fancourt, UNESCO Chair of Arts & Global Health has said: ‘If the arts were a pill, we would be taking it every day.’ Doing something creative has the power increase your lifespan, improve your mental health, ease chronic pain, lower cortisol levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune system and improve your ability to understand and manage difficult emotions.

The Salford Creative Health Network brings together local arts organisations with health and social care services, creative practitioners, and community groups. Our aims are:

• To encourage arts and health to work in closer connection as a system in Salford
• To increase creative opportunities for all ages – especially those with the greatest health needs
• To share more evidence and stories to show how creativity improves wellbeing in Salford
• To bring more funding into the city to support this work and those who deliver these opportunities.

The Network has around 300 members – everyone is welcome to join our mailing list. We meet quarterly – always in a different area of the city. And we share regular news and information via email and social media. We report to the Salford Culture Place Partnership and the Salford City Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Our Steering Group helps lead the work of the Network. This includes representation from Salford Public Health, Salford CVS, Salford Community Leisure, Arts for the Blues (from the University of Salford) and START Inspiring Minds (a local arts and mental health charity) – along with 4 Community Representatives.

To find out more about work, follow us on Instagram @salfordcreativehealth

#YourCreativeHealth

On social media, we share ideas for finding creative health activities in Salford using the hashtag #YourCreativeHealth.