National Centre for Creative Health

Who

The National Centre for Creative Health is a registered Charity with a board of trustees and a small staff team. We are supported by an Advisory Group, and support a network of Creative Health Champions, and three Special Interest Groups (SIG's) for creative health including: RCGP Special Interest Group, Nursing Special Interest Group, and an Pharmacy Special Interest Group. We work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

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What

We define creative health as creative approaches and activities which have benefits for our health and wellbeing. Read the full definition of creative health and find out about our programmes of work including Hubs, Hives and Huddles, the Creative Health Toolkit and the recent Creative Health Associates Programme.

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Why

Research

Research shows that active engagement with the arts, culture and creativity is beneficial for the health and wellbeing of us all.

We support the development of research via our partnerships with University College London, the Royal Society for Public Health Special Interest Group in Arts, Health and Wellbeing and a number of research centres working in relevant fields.

We are a partner in the six year national research programme: Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities, from 2021-2027.

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Policy

The Creative Health Review, delivered in partnership with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, was published in 2023. It builds on the 2017 Creative Health report and makes recommendations to government and metro mayors, and forms the basis of our policy work.

We provide the secretariat for the new APPG on Creative Health which launched on 26 November 2024 replacing the APPG on Arts, Health, and Wellbeing.

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How

Are you a health and care professional? Do you want to know HOW Creative Health can work in health and care organisations and systems?

Creative Health delivers patient and service-user benefits to health and care, preventing ill-health, improving well-being and reducing demand on services - delivering a significant return on investment

Creative Health is already integral in many ICSs, providers and care pathways across mental and physical health, social care and public health, and is delivering measurable value, both social and financial.

NCCH provides a number of resources to help and support those in systems to embed creative health, including a bespoke Health & Care Monthly Newsletter >>

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In Memory of Lord Howarth

The trustees and staff of the National Centre for Creative Health are deeply saddened by the death of The Right Honourable, Lord Howarth of Newport CBE, our President and founding Chair. Lord Howarth was an inspirational leader of the creative health movement for over 25 years since his time as Minister for the Arts from 1998-2001. Following Lord Howarth's distinguished tenure as NCCH’s inaugural Chair, Lord Howarth stood down on 19th July 2024 to become President of the NCCH. He continued to support the organisation as an advocate for creative health until he passed away on 10th September 2025. Condolences to his family and friends and to all our colleagues who will be thinking about his remarkable contribution, his warmth and generosity, and the great loss that this is.

In memory of Lord Howarth's inspirational leadership and contribution to creative health >>