Naviation

As NCCH's network is expanding rapidly the number of enquiries we receive continues to grow. Our small staff team is not always able to provide a meaningful response. To help with regular enquires about our work we have set out below some frequently asked questions. More information regarding our work can be found via a range of channels including:

Also, we host a range of Special Interest Groups and working groups for health and systems professionals including:

For those working in the creative health field who want to share established delivery programmes and evidence of their impact we also welcome creative health in practice submissions: https://airtable.com/appzWNpQN5QQLOY66/pagcjSA2eTUHNBUnh/form

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

WORKING WITH NCCH

I would like to partner with NCCH on a project

Our small team are often working at capacity, so partnerships are contingent on long-term planning, funding for our time, and strong alignment to our organisational mission and objectives.

We are always open to discussing potential partnerships. To discuss this, contact our Director, Alex Coulter, at: info[at]ncch.org.uk

I have a project/resource which aligns to a recent NCCH event, can we discuss how we might align our work? 

We host a mixture of events; some are on recurrent themes, others are topical. To discuss whether your work aligns with a recurrent theme or connection to a topical workstream, email: info[at]ncch.org.uk

I would like an endorsement/ letter of support/ affiliation for my project, organisation, or research centre.

Unfortunately, NCCH are not able to support individual projects or centres in this way, as it would disadvantage other creative health stakeholders in the field.

Can NCCH fund my project?

NCCH does not provide direct funding for projects. We recommend exploring opportunities through arts, health, research and charitable funders relevant to your work.

Can NCCH review my funding application, research or project proposal?

Due to capacity limitations, we are generally unable to provide feedback on creative health applications or proposals.

If you have a targeted question about whether your research proposal aligns well with health and social care priorities or would like our opinion on which of your options for research/evidence activities best contributes to gaps in the field, we are happy to consider email correspondence via research[at]ncch.org.uk

I would like a meeting to share information about a current creative health work/programme/project, so that you are aware of it.

Unfortunately, we get a lot of requests for meetings and often do not have the capacity to accept them. Acceptance will depend on our current availability and strong alignment to our upcoming workstreams. However, if you would like us to be aware of your work, so that we can consider its relevance for future evidence submissions, briefings, events and workstreams, please feel encouraged to share via the link below. It will be read, filed, and returned to if an opportunity arises.

https://airtable.com/appzWNpQN5QQLOY66/pagcjSA2eTUHNBUnh/form

INVOLVEMENT IN CREATIVE HEALTH & NCCH’S WORK 

I would like NCCH to help me connect with health and social care leaders in my area/discipline.

We are unable to support individual people or projects to connect with healthcare as our work is an advocacy function, aligning thematic areas of creative health practice to health and social care agendas.

However, we regularly produce resources, events and networking opportunities designed to help creative health practitioners understand and engage with health and social care systems. Visit our website to find out more: https://ncch.org.uk/how 

If you are a health care professional and want to connect with others interested in creative health, then one of our special interest groups might be relevant. 

I would like NCCH to help me connect with creative health happening in my area

Our small team are often working at capacity, and unfortunately, we get a lot of requests for local knowledge regarding creative health activities. As we are not able to reply to each of these requests, we suggest signing up to our newsletters to stay informed, joining our NCCH events to network with others in the sector, and looking at our NCCH website resources section which features a range of creative health activities and examples from around the UK. 

How do I help shape NCCH's policy briefings, consultation responses, or evidence submissions?

Many of our policy briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions are produced within extremely short timescales, which limits our ability to co-produce them. We therefore draw upon entries within our research and project databases, desk research into other existing evidence, and our team’s awareness of industry practices (iteratively developed through engagement activities). Occasionally, we also consult with close networks when developing these documents.

If you are interested in co-producing systems and policy-facing documents with us, consider getting involved in one of our evidence synthesis projects once we have launched our forthcoming Research Network (more information coming soon!)

How can I get involved in one of your APPG roundtables?

APPG roundtables are developed in response to themes identified by the APPG on Creative Health and are designed to inform particular policy topics. We typically seek a mix of lived experience insight, creative health practice, health and social care leadership, research expertise, and policy positioning. Due to limited places, participation is by invitation only and based on the needs of the specific discussion.

Are their opportunities to contribute to conversations around lived experience?

At NCCH we aim to embed lived experience voices in our work, however we are not a lived experience network or organisation, so we seek lived experience insight from and work with organisations who are leading the way in these conversations including: 

I would like to submit my research to the 2026 Research Round-Up, where can I find a linkto submit my work?

We’d love to have your work included. We’ll be launching the eligibility criteria and submissions form in Autumn 2026.

I'd like to see more work from NCCH on the topic of X.

NCCH's priorities are primarily shaped by the needs of our core audiences: health and social care leaders, policymakers, and other systems partners. However, we welcome suggestions for future areas of work. To do so, contact info[at]ncch.org.uk

Whilst we aim to represent the breadth of creative health activity, we must prioritise work that aligns with current health and social care priorities, clinical and population health outcomes, health inequalities, implementation challenges, and the evidence needs of decision-makers (including, but not limited to, economic impact or service-use reduction).

Do you have data/evidence about creative health that I can use?

We generally do not share the data we collect. Evidence resources are available through our website. We recommend reviewing our research round-ups, briefings, and evidence summaries before contacting us directly.

I would like NCCH to advise on the development of a creative health strategy.

Strategy development is key to our mission to embed creative health into health and social care systems. To discuss how we might support strategy development in your area, you can contact: Jayne Howard, Head of Programmes – jayne[at]ncch.org.uk

CAREERS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I am an early-career individual looking for advice?

Unfortunately, we rarely have the availability in our diaries to support people one-on-one. But consider signing up to one of our newsletters, where you can connect with others in the field.

I am interested in working in creative health, so can I send you my CV? 

Please do not send CVs to us speculatively, these emails will not be responded to.  NCCH recruits through formal advertising, and all job opportunities will be advertised through our News and Opportunities Newsletter and social media channels. 

Can I volunteer, or do you offer internships?

As a small staff team, we do not have capacity to offer the support needed for volunteer or internships, and also as a charity we believe roles in the sector should be valued and paid accordingly. 

I would like NCCH to help me connect with clinical placements which offer creative health in the UK

Unfortunately, we get a lot of international requests for clinical placements in the UK, but we are unable to support individual people to connect with health providers.

I noticed NCCH is a partner on the Creative Health MASc at University College London, do you provide funding?

NCCH does not provide direct funding for any MASc students. We support the MASc at UCL by offering student supervision and dissertation opportunities.

In the sector, scholarships and sponsorships to complete a masters are rare. UCL suggest contacting the Admissions Tutor: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-sciences/study/postgraduate-study/creative-health-masc regarding any funding enquiries. 

Would NCCH be willing to speak at our event/webinar/conference?

Speaking requests are considered based on strategic relevance, audience, location, available capacity and whether funding is available to support staff time. Please send details of your event to: info[at]ncch.org.uk

I am a creative health practitioner. Can NCCH support me?

NCCH's primary audiences are health and social care leaders, policymakers, and other systems partners. Whilst many of our resources are freely available to creative health practitioners, we are not able to provide direct support for individual organisations or practitioners.

Practitioners seeking peer support, networking opportunities and sector development resources may find it helpful to engage with other organisations in our ecosystem, including but not limited to: 

The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/ 

Wales Arts Health & Well-being Network https://wahwn.cymru/

Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS) https://achws.org/ 

Arts Care https://www.artscare.co.uk/ 

Arts and Health Hub https://www.artsandhealthhub.org/ 

London Arts and Health https://londonartsandhealth.org.uk/ 

National Arts in Hospitals Network  https://nahn.org.uk/ 

National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP) https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/ 

I would like to ask NCCH for an interview for a podcast, study, media publication. 

Interview requests are considered based on strategic and audience relevance, and available staff capacity. Please send details of your request to: info[at]ncch.org.uk

Do you offer training or guest lectures?

We are sometimes able to provide guest lectures, where capacity allows and expenses are covered. In specific circumstances, we also develop bespoke training packages for organisations. Due to limited capacity, we prioritise commissioned opportunities and requests from health and social care partners. To discuss further, please contact: info[at]ncch.org.uk

I am interested in creative health, but where should I start?

Here is a list of some popular research and policy pages, to help guide you on your journey

Keep your eye out for these resources, coming soon!

COMMUNICATIONS

Could I have a copy of a photo/ video you took at an event where I presented?

Absolutely! Sometimes, there can be a delay in processing multi-media, but we endeavour to get a copy to you (upon request) as soon as our capacity allows. To request multi-media, contact: commuincations[at]ncch.org.uk

Can NCCH circulate my research survey/recruitment call/dissemination reports/media releases to your networks?

We are unable to circulate all research survey/recruitment/dissemination reports/ media releases requests. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on alignment with our current priorities, evaluation value to the field, and available capacity. For consideration, contact: info[at]ncch.org.uk

Do you promote my creative health work/programmes via your newsletter/ social media?

We endeavour to highlight good creative health practice but have limited capacity available to review individual projects. We receive far more enquiries than our capacity allows, so we apply to the following criteria on what we prioritise:

  • Our primary audience for communications is health and social care leaders; therefore, we typically look for work that has taken place as part of a systems partnership, or which communicates value in systems terms.
  • We are currently developing a research network and newsletter to help expand our ability to disseminate the latest research. We will prioritise research from a UK setting, as this is important to the policy context that we serve.
  • We typically do not share information about other projects, unless they have previously appeared in one of our events/ case studies/ briefings.

Please note, our ‘general’ newsletter is reserved for NCCH content. Our ‘health and social care’ newsletter shares external work, but limit content to those themes.

Can we have a conversation about SEO for the NCCH website?

Whilst we appreciate suggestions regarding website visibility and search rankings, we are unable to enter into discussions regarding NCCH's website, communications strategy or search engine optimisation. We do not respond to cold-calling sales emails.