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Creative health includes many types of activity like arts and crafts, heritage and culture, dance, theatre, music and performing arts, spending time in nature and cooking.

A theatre company who knows all about the power of creativity is Strange Futures, who have been running free ‘Theatre in the Making’ workshops at Malvern Cube with the support of a ������Ƶ County Council Public Health grant.

The sessions ran for nine weeks and were aimed at a variety of local residents including refugees, asylum seekers and those living with neurodiversity, or a physical or sensory impairment.

Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health at ������Ƶ County Council said: “These sessions are brilliant and have had a measurable impact on the health and wellbeing of all those who attend. The workshops provide opportunities for individuals to engage in create arts activities, explore self-expression, develop English language skills and importantly, increase social connections.”

Skully, 29, who participated in the sessions said: “I think this has been a great outlet for me. I don’t get these kinds of opportunities every day. I get to use my creativity and connect with new people. I have already made one friend. The things we have done I would never have thought to do myself. I immensely enjoyed it and find the sessions very soothing and comforting and I think it’s therapeutic. I also like that I have been encouraged as an adult to use my creativity this way!”

William Moore, Co-Artistic Director at Strange Futures, said: “Our Theatre in the Making workshops have been a free and open opportunity for members of the community to come together, make new friends, and get creative! We aim to provide opportunities to engage in inclusive creative arts activities including poetry, ariel movement, disability dance strategies, shadow puppetry and more! A massive thank you to The Cube and to ������Ƶ County Council’s Public Health Team, without whom this project simply could not have gone ahead. We at Strange Futures, as well as our collaborating artists, and workshop participants are immensely grateful for your support.”

The Public Health Grant programme provides funding to support community initiatives aimed at improving health and wellbeing.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Creative Health in ������Ƶ, our Health Champions Newsletter has regular updates. Sign up to be a champion via our Health and Wellbeing Insights blog or the ������Ƶ Health Champions pages of our website.