The Voices of Creative Health

Jennifer Leslie

The podcast explores how creativity can support mental health, emotional wellbeing, and a sense of belonging, with a focus on underrepresented communities. It serves as a platform for creative health facilitators, practitioners, participants and individuals from underrepresented communities to share their experiences, approaches, and insights, while also engaging a broader audience of practitioners, educators, funders, and allies who want to learn about diversity, inclusion, and culturally informed creative health practice. In our Resources Corner, we share the latest funding, events, and news from the creative health world—helping you access the opportunities you might not have known existed. The podcast provides a space where people can explore and identify what creative health means to them, helping the field feel accessible rather than alien.

  1. 5d ago

    S.2 Episode 8: Creative Health in Action: Community, Connection & Dungeons & Dragons with Daniel

    Summary In this episode, Dan shares his journey from participant to practitioner, exploring innovative community-based creative health projects at the Amelia Scott. Discover how creative activities like Dungeons and Dragons can foster wellbeing, inclusivity, and community resilience. Keywords creative health, community spaces, Dungeons and Dragons, wellbeing, inclusive practices, Amelia Scott, mental health, arts in community, creative workshops, social impact Connect with Dan Instagram Chapters 00:00 — From Participant to Practitioner 00:53 — The Amelia Scott: A Space for Creative Health 08:27 — The Role of Community Spaces 12:30 — Dungeons & Dragons as Creative Health 18:14 — The Impact of Role-Playing Games 20:50 — Building Sustainable & Inclusive Communities 23:23 — Lessons from Facilitating Dungeons & Dragons 28:29 — Choice & Evaluating Creative Health 30:20 — Sustaining the Creative Health Workforce 33:23 — What Does Creative Health Mean to You? Resources Funding Greenwich Healthier Communities Fund - Micro Grant Deadline: 14th December 2026 Amount £500 - £5,000 Link: Micro Grants - Groundwork Events Event Name: Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health Date: 5th October Link: Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health Tickets, Monday 5 October  •  7 PM - 8:30 PM | Eventbrite News NCCH - Creative Health Research Round-Up 2026 Deadline: 11:59pm on Sunday 13th December 2026. National Centre for Creative Health Additional Resources Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale Daniel’s Episode: From Participant to Creative Health Practitioner Creative Health | The Amelia Scott NCCH_RSPH-Creative-Health-Research-Round-Up-2025.pdf National Centre for Creative Health Charlies Angels Dungeons and Dragons for Women at The Amelia Connect with Jen Email: Thevoicesofcreativehealth@outlook.com Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie

  2. Sep 1

    S.2 Episode 6: Who Holds the Practitioner in Creative Health? – with Jane Willis

    Summary In this conversation, we speak with Jane Willis and explore the intersection of creativity and health, discussing Jane's personal journey in creative health, the importance of supporting practitioners, and the emotional labour involved in creative work. Jane emphasises the need for safe spaces, community support, and the role of mentoring and coaching in fostering creativity and well-being. Keywords Creative Health, Emotional Wellbeing, Mentoring, Coaching, Community Support, Reflective Practice, Emotional Labour, Safe Spaces, Creative Outlets, Personal Journey supervision, reflective practice Connect with Jane Willis Instagram: Jane_willis_bristolLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-willis/A Place To Write (Jane’s weekly co-writing sessions) https://www.janewillis.co.uk/reflective-co-writingCoaching with Jane Willis  https://www.janewillis.co.uk/finding-your-wayResources Corner Fund: Haringey Unearthed Link: Haringey Unearthed | Haringey London Borough Culture 2027 Events Name of Event: Creative Industries Festival 2026 Link: Creative Industries Festival 2026 - General Admission Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite Name of Event: ARCH Webinar: Cultural Contagion - Time, Being and Ill-being Link: ARCH Webinar: Cultural Contagion - Time, Being and Ill-being Tickets, Wednesday, September 9  •  1 PM - 2 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite  News Creative Health Inclusive Wandsworth  Community  Network (CHIC) Link to membership: CHIC (Creative Health Inclusive Community) Network- membership sign up Additional information : Launch Event: Link: Creative Health Inclusive Community Wandsworth Network - St Georges Hospital Charity Additional Resources Training | CHWA Creative Health Quality Framework Connect with Jen     Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie

  3. Aug 25

    S.2 Episode 5: From Participant to Creative Health Practitioner: with Daniel H

    Content note: This episode touches briefly on mental health and a difficult personal experience. Please take care while listening. Summary What happens when someone who has experienced the transformative power of creativity and art goes on to become a creative health practitioner?   In this episode of The Voices of Creative Health, Daniel shares his inspiring journey from participant to practitioner, reflecting on how creativity, community and lived experience shaped his path into creative health.   Daniel reflects on the importance of feeling seen, finding purpose, and how his own experiences now inform the way he supports others. His story is a powerful reminder that lived experience can become a source of strength, empathy and leadership within the creative health workforce.   As part of our Season 2 theme, Sustaining the Creative Health Workforce, this conversation explores one of the many pathways into creative health and celebrates the value that people with lived experience bring to the sector. Keywords Creative health, community, wellbeing, art therapy, mental health, creative practice, community engagement, mental health support, creative health workforce, personal growth, pathways Connect With Dan Instagram: Instagram Resources Corner Funding Organisation: Culture Croydon Name of Grant: Croydon Loves You 2026 – Round 2 Deadline: September 17th 5pm Link: Croydon Loves You 2026 - Culture Croydon % Additional Information: Croydon Loves you 2026 Q&A Session Tuesday 3rd September 2-3pm Virtual Link to register Croydon Loves You 2026 Q&A Session Events Organisation: School of Arts & Creative Industries Name of Event: Creative Health in Newham: From Citizen Voice to Neighbourhood Delivery Date: Friday 4th September Time: 10:00 -1pm Location: Docklands campus Living Library Cost: Free Link: Creative Health in Newham: From Citizen Voice to Neighbourhood Delivery Tickets, Friday, September 4  •  10 AM - 1 PM | Eventbrite News Creative Health training, with Culture Croydon Creative Health Quality Framework Workshop 3 Date: Tuesday 8th September Time: 10:00 -12:00 Virtual Free Link to register and find when there are more training offers Creative Health Training - Culture Croydon Please note: Training is available to people working in creative health in Croydon Additional Resources  West Kent Mind West Kent Mind Home - West Kent Mind Mind We're Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

  4. Aug 18

    S.2 Episode 4: Creative Health: Education, Opportunity & Careers With Dr Louise Baxter

    Summary Jen interviews Dr Louise Baxter about her journey into creative health and the Creative Health Masters at UCL. They explore health inequalities, community assets, wellbeing and interdisciplinary learning, alongside student diversity, barriers to education and improving access. Louise also shares insights into teaching, dissertation supervision and the importance of community and reflection in creative health practice. Keywords Creative Health, Health Inequalities, Community Assets, Education, Masters Program, Interdisciplinary, Arts and Health, Mental Wellbeing, Research Methods, Diversity, Community, Funding, Career Pathways, Practical Learning, Infrastructure, Future of Creative Health, Overcoming Barriers Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Louise’s Journey 04:08 Creative Health & Health Inequalities 08:04 The Creative Health MASc at UCL 23:02 Access, Careers & the Creative Health Workforce 39:51 The Future of Creative Health Education Connect with Louise Instagram: @uclcreativehealth Resources Corner Funding Organisation: Access Sport Link: Apply to AIPFF | Access Sport Organisation: Aldi Aldi Sport Fund - England and Wales Link: SportsFund | ALDI UK Events Org: Big Penny Social Decoupage Workshop Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite News CHWA – 2026 Conference in Barnsley Link: Common Ground: CHWA Conference 2026 Tickets, Wednesday 7 October-Friday 9 October  •  2 PM-1 PM | Eventbrite Bursary Link: CHWA Conference 2026: Bursary Opportunity - deadline 7 September | CHWA Volunteering Opportunity CHWA Conference 2026: Common Ground - Join our Volunteer Team! | CHWA Additional Resources Creative Health MASc | Prospective Students Graduate - UCL – University College London UCL East London Scholarship | UCL Scholarships and funding - UCL – University College London National Centre for Creative Health Roro Episode 5:        Instagram    Contact Jen Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth

  5. Aug 11

    Season 2 Episode 3: Discovering Creative Health Education: What Opportunities Are Out There?

    Jen About Town Episode 3: Discovering Creative Health Education: What Opportunities Are Out There?     Summary In this episode, Jen explores the growing opportunities available for people wanting to learn more about creative health. She reflects on the importance of education, professional development and accessible learning pathways in supporting a growing and evolving field.   Jen shares an overview of her research exploring creative health educational resources across the UK, highlighting the range of opportunities available, from different levels of study and formats to varying time commitments and costs. This episode explores why creating opportunities to learn, develop and connect is an important part of sustaining the creative health workforce. Keywords   Creative Health, Education, Workforce Development, Resources, UK, Dissertation, Learning Opportunities, Creative Practice, Professional Development, Accessibility Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Jennifer Leslie and the episode 02:02 Jennifer's personal creative health journey and recent activities 04:01 Overview of her dissertation on creative health educational resources 05:59 Findings from mapping 42 creative health resources across the UK 07:55 The importance of education for a sustainable creative health workforce 09:50 Details of two free online educational resources for creative health 11:53 Reflections on the future of creative health education and closing thoughts Additional Resources   Mood Body Studios Instagram Short UCL Courses Arts, Culture and Heritage: Understanding their complex effects on our health | Short courses - UCL – University College London Culture, Health and Wellbeing: An Introduction | Short courses - UCL – University College London Jen’s details Connect with Jen Email: Thevoicesofcreativehealth@outlook.com Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie

About

The podcast explores how creativity can support mental health, emotional wellbeing, and a sense of belonging, with a focus on underrepresented communities. It serves as a platform for creative health facilitators, practitioners, participants and individuals from underrepresented communities to share their experiences, approaches, and insights, while also engaging a broader audience of practitioners, educators, funders, and allies who want to learn about diversity, inclusion, and culturally informed creative health practice. In our Resources Corner, we share the latest funding, events, and news from the creative health world—helping you access the opportunities you might not have known existed. The podcast provides a space where people can explore and identify what creative health means to them, helping the field feel accessible rather than alien.

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