Six more health and care systems join the Creative Health Leads Programme
Date: 5th November, 2026
The National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) has selected six more health and care systems for the third cohort of its national Creative Health Leads Programme ,which is funded by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation.
With these new systems being announced, 18 systems across England now have support to embed creative health, contributing towards the programme's aim of up to 30 Creative Health Lead roles.
The programme supports health and care systems to embed creative health strategically and operationally, from prevention and population health to neighbourhood health models and clinical pathways. The successful systems announced today are:
- Birmingham
- Blackpool
- Dorset
- East Sussex
- Essex
- North and South of Tees
They join the twelve systems announced in March and May 2026.
These systems will receive support including structured learning and development, evaluation, and a two-year subsidy towards the role of their Creative Health Lead.
Lucia Holloway, Locality Integration Manager (Central) at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust:
“We are delighted that Birmingham has been selected for the Creative Health Leads programme. It is a great opportunity to build on Birmingham’s existing strengths and explore how creativity can play a greater role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. The programme will strengthen creative health within neighbourhood care, bringing together the NHS, local authority, voluntary and community organisations, and cultural partners.
By working more closely together, we can make creative opportunities easier to find and access, helping people connect with their communities, take part in meaningful activities and support their wider wellbeing.
The programme also gives us an opportunity to strengthen prevention and early support by building clearer links between health services and community-based opportunities. By embedding creative health within neighbourhood care, we can improve access to support and contribute to reducing health inequalities across Birmingham.”
Professor Paul Jebb, Associate Chief Nurse, Patient Experience, Engagement & Safeguarding at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is really excited to be hosting this role and look forward to seeing this develop with our partners to support the health of the communities across Blackpool.”
Professor Dawn Dawson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital said:
"We're delighted to receive this funding, which comes at an important moment for Dorset. We've already built strong partnerships between health, social care, local authorities, the voluntary sector and our cultural organisations, and this new role will help us turn ambition into action.
“Creative health has a vital part to play in prevention, reducing health inequalities and supporting people to live well in their communities and our Creative Health Lead will help connect organisations, strengthen local networks and embed creative health in neighbourhood health services.”
Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health, East Sussex County Council said:
“We are delighted to be chosen as one of the six areas nationally in this third round of the Creative Health Leads in Systems Programme.
Having the guidance and support from the National Centre for Creative Health will hugely support the East Sussex system to help to further grow and deepen our Creative Health offer, ensuring that more residents are supported to maintain and improve their health and wellbeing via creative health endeavours. This will help to improve population health through preventing ill health and reducing inequalities, particularly in our coastal and most deprived areas of the county.”
Cllr Chris Hossack, Cabinet Member for Residents and Community Services: Essex County Council, said:
"Creative health is becoming an increasingly important part of how we support wellbeing, prevent ill health and tackle inequalities in Essex.
This role will help turn that energy into lasting change, connecting partners and strengthening the contribution that creativity can make to people's health and wellbeing."
Dr Jean MacLeod Chair of Group Arts Council University Hospitals Tees l North and South of Tees, said:
“We are delighted to support this role alongside our community partners in the Tees Valley, ensuring that creative health becomes so deeply embedded that it becomes part of our every day working practice, with an impact across traditional care boundaries for our local population.”
The newly selected systems will work closely with NCCH, partners and communities to embed creative health priorities into local strategic and operational plans, while contributing to national learning about how creative health can support prevention, reduce inequalities and strengthen neighbourhood health.”
NCCH looks forward to working with all participating systems and sharing learning and impact as the programme develops.
About the Creative Health Leads Programme
The Creative Health Leads Programme supports health and care organisations to embed creative health strategically and operationally across their systems, enabling creative approaches to contribute meaningfully to health outcomes.
The programme provides:
- A two-year salary subsidy for a Creative Health Lead (NHS Band 7 or equivalent)
- Participation in a structured learning and development programme
- Evaluation and national dissemination of learning and impact
For more about the programme, visit ncch.org.uk/creative-health-leads-programme.
Systems announced to date
March 2026: Berkshire West; Cornwall and Isles of Scilly; North East London; South East London; Walsall Together; West Yorkshire.
May 2026: Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire; Greater Manchester Public Health Network; Portsmouth; North Central London; South West London; Wigan.
November 2026: Birmingham, Blackpool, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, North & South of Tees
