National Centre for Creative Health announces first six systems for Creative Health Leads Programme
National Centre for Creative Health announces first six systems for Creative Health Leads Programme
Six health and care systems across England have been selected to join the first cohort of the Creative Health Leads Programme, a national initiative designed to embed creative health within mainstream health and care.
The National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) has announced the first six systems chosen to take part in its new Creative Health Leads Programme, funded by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation.
The selected systems will appoint dedicated Creative Health Leads who will work across their organisations and communities to strengthen the role of creative health in local health and care priorities.
The six systems are:
- Berkshire West
Building on a strong history of partnership between three local authorities, the NHS, primary care and the voluntary sector, Berkshire West sees Creative Health as a key part of its shift towards prevention and neighbourhood-based support. Hosted by West Berkshire Council within the Public Health team, the Creative Health Lead will work across Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to better connect arts, culture and health, making creativity part of everyday support for mental health, frailty, heart and lung conditions, and cancer. In a diverse area spanning urban, semi-rural and rural communities, the role will help grow community-based activities that reach people who don’t always engage with traditional services, strengthen links with social prescribing, and embed creative approaches into care pathways. By raising awareness of the evidence for creative health, working alongside research and digital data partners, and building stronger cross-sector collaboration, the aim is to empower individuals, strengthen community resilience, reduce pressure on services, and demonstrate measurable improvements in health and wellbeing across Berkshire West.
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have a strong track record of creative health projects that improve wellbeing, resilience and community connection, but much of this work has relied on short-term funding and individual champions. The Creative Health Lead will provide dedicated, system-wide leadership to bring these efforts together into a clear, coordinated and sustainable approach. Working across the NHS, local government and community organisations, the role will map and strengthen existing activity, embed creative approaches into everyday health and care support, and identify long-term funding to move beyond small, time-limited projects. With a focus on reducing health inequalities, tackling loneliness and isolation, and improving mental wellbeing, the Lead will help ensure that people in Cornwall’s rural, coastal and more deprived communities can access creative opportunities as part of prevention, personalised care and neighbourhood support. The ambition is to make creative health a valued and lasting part of how Cornwall supports the health and wellbeing of its residents.
- North East London
Building on two years of strong local work, the Creative Health Lead in North East London will help move creative health from a series of successful projects to a joined-up, long-term approach that improves health and reduces inequality across the area. Working across NHS partners, councils, and community and cultural organisations, the role will make creativity a routine part of how people are supported — from mental health and social prescribing to community-based prevention. The Lead will champion programmes shaped by local people, especially those facing the greatest health challenges, while strengthening partnerships and developing clear ways to show impact. The overall aim is to improve wellbeing in neighbourhoods experiencing disadvantage, build trust between communities and the health system, and ensure creative health becomes a sustainable and valued part of everyday support in North East London.
- South East London
Building on two years of strong local work, the Creative Health Lead in South East London will help turn creative health from a collection of successful projects into a joined-up, long-term approach that improves people’s health and tackles inequality. Working within the South London Listens team, the role will bring together the NHS, councils, community groups, and arts and heritage organisations to make creativity part of everyday health support — from mental health and social prescribing to neighbourhood-based prevention. The Lead will support culturally relevant programmes shaped by local communities, particularly those who face the greatest barriers to good health, while strengthening partnerships and developing clear ways to measure impact. The aim is to reduce pressure on clinical services, improve wellbeing in the most deprived neighbourhoods, build trust between communities and the health system, and ensure creative health becomes a sustainable and valued part of how South East London supports its residents.
- Walsall Together
Walsall faces significant health inequalities, with lower life expectancy than the England average and higher rates of early death linked to cancer and heart disease, particularly in the most deprived neighbourhoods. The Creative Health Lead will work across the Walsall Together Partnership to embed creative health in the areas with the greatest need, using music, arts and movement-based activities to support prevention, recovery and healthier lifestyles — especially for people with multiple long-term conditions and those experiencing frailty. As Walsall develops its new neighbourhood health model, the role will connect NHS teams, public health, social care, community groups and cultural organisations to ensure creativity becomes part of everyday support, not an add-on. By drawing on local data, strengthening grassroots wellbeing networks, and engaging communities who are often underrepresented, the aim is to reduce inequalities, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and make neighbourhood services more inclusive, preventative and community-led.
- West Yorkshire
The Creative Health Lead in West Yorkshire will provide system-wide leadership to make creativity part of mainstream health and care across all five local authority areas. Building on the region’s existing Creative Health System programme, supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and regional partners, the role will strengthen collaboration between the NHS, local government, universities, cultural organisations and communities.
Embedding creative health in health and care systems
The Creative Health Leads Programme has been designed to support the strategic and operational integration of creative health across prevention, population health, neighbourhood models and clinical pathways.
By embedding dedicated leadership within health and care systems, the initiative aims to move creative health from isolated innovation to sustained system-wide change.
Participating systems will receive:
- a two-year salary subsidy for a Creative Health Lead (NHS Band 7 or equivalent)
- structured learning and development through a national programme
- evaluation and shared learning to support wider system change
The six successful systems form the first cohort of what is expected to grow to approximately 25–30 Creative Health Lead roles across England over the next two years.
Alongside local impact, the programme will generate national learning about how creative health can be commissioned, support neighbourhood health models, and contribute to long-term health system transformation.
Further opportunities for systems to apply to join the programme will be announced soon.
Find out more:
More information about the Creative Health Leads Programme is available on the NCCH website.
