Creative workshops for people living with long term health challenges
Our Creative Space programme began as a commissioned service for East Suffolk & NE Essex NHS Trust supporting the recovery of patients living with long covid in Suffolk and Northeast Essex. Since expanding the remit of the programme, we’ve seen how activities have also been beneficial to participants living with a variety of health challenges including Parkinson’s, MS, Chronic Fatigue and those recovering from cancer, surgery and chronic illness.
The programme has offered the chance for people living with health and mobility challenges to learn new skills and access peer support through engagement with free in-person and online workshops led by experienced arts-health practitioners.
Cohere Artists have worked with clinicians from the long covid team to ensure that activities are designed to be adaptable to individual needs and energy levels, and help with the management of symptoms such as brain fog.
Creative Writing
Online group workshops to stimulate cognitive function through simple writing exercises in poetry, short stories, drama & comedy. A focus on fun & word play.
Visual Art
Relaxing arts and craft activities using materials from around the home. To encourage mindfulness, improve coordination & inspire the imagination.
Singing & Breath Work
Led by a singing for health specialist, sessions include breath work to address respiratory symptoms & ease anxiety, as well as uplifting songs.
“I want to thank you all for these sessions, it’s been a real surprise to enjoy them so much and great to meet other people who get what it’s like to be living with long term health issues.”
“Your workshops are the only place I’ve ever felt truly able to be myself around people who fully understand my condition.”
“I have seen a massive improvement in my mood since connecting with others during these sessions.”
“Being able to access online allows me to join a group independently and keep my independence rather than rely on someone to take me to a physical class.”
“I find it difficult, you know, to sing in public, but I do think it’s very joyful to do it on Zoom.”
Programme participants
December 2023 saw the launch of the National Centre for Creative Health’s ‘Creative Health Review – How Policy Can Embrace Creative Health’; a long-awaited report highlighting how creative health can help to tackle key policy challenges across health, social care and wider systems. Our Creative Space programme supporting people living with long covid was featured within the report and as one of a range of case studies illustrating the strength and breadth of creative health provision and arts-health collaboration in the UK.
Hear from participants of the programme in the short film below:
Online resources
Our Creative Space programme has now come to an end, but you can click here to access our Creative Space YouTube playlist for bite-sized singing, breathing & visual art exercises to stimulate cognitive function.
Click here to access our YouTube Playlist aimed at 16-25 year olds
For more info about any aspect of our Creative Space programme, email us at coherearts@gmail.com
Produced in partnership with
With thanks to:
Ipswich Museum Service, The Mercury Theatre, Ipswich & East Suffolk NHS Alliance