Clinical psychologist Katherine Taylor explains how Greater Manchester is putting the arts at the heart of its mental health strategy, inspired by Finland’s positive experiences.
Laura Bailey explains how Kent County Council is aiming to integrate arts and culture into its commissioned services across the board - even in waste management.
A project run by the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and a housing provider started with cultural visits and ended with a full-scale theatre production. Inga Hirst tells the story.
Arts organisations are under growing pressure to demonstrate social impact. Emma Taylor-Collins explains how they can gain robust, high quality evidence to measure their success.
A circus artist helped older people and children develop their confidence and communicaton skills in workshops at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, writes Emma Gladstone.
27 healthcare providers in the North West have committed to developing a cultural prescription plan for new and expectant mothers to give children the “best start” in life.
A music-making project within HMP Inverness is helping offenders develop skills for life, learning and work. Stacey Toner describes the challenges and its aims for the future.
Young offenders in Wales gained the Arts Award during a Summer Arts College – for some it was their first ever qualification. Angela Rogers tells how their success was realised.
Leaders in local authorities and health services have started to recognise the value of arts organisations to their agendas following a series of multi-partner collaborations.
Male prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm may be apprehensive about signing up for a theatre project, but some finish Geese Theatre Company’s five-day course giddy with pride. Louise Heywood shares the story.
Helping prisoners devise and perform a piece of children’s theatre for their families may help reduce re-offending rates, but Selina Busby questions whether the evaluation of such projects is as effective as it should be.
As the arts work their magic in so many mysterious ways, how can their impact be fully understood and measured? MatthewBrown wrestles with the concept of social value.
Halton CCG’s manifesto for wellbeing commits the organisation to commissioning cultural activity, which it says can support wellbeing in ways that other methods cannot.
Measures for improving governance, social investment and services commissioning by public bodies have been put forward in a report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities.
