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. 6d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Jun 2

    Episode 19: Season One Finale: Your Creative Health Moment Starts Here - With Jen Leslie

    Summary In this final episode of Season One of The Voices of Creative Health, host Jen reflects on the powerful stories shared by guests throughout the season. She explores the meaning of creative health through responses from friends and family, emphasising self-expression, mental wellbeing, and personal journeys. Jen also shares her own definition of creative health, highlighting the importance of creativity in navigating life's challenges and celebrating personal growth. The episode ends with a poem from previous guest Janice. Keywords creative health, self-expression, mental wellbeing, creativity, personal stories, podcast, season one, reflections, definitions, insights Keywords creative health, self-expression, mental wellbeing, creativity, personal stories, podcast, season one, reflections, definitions, insights Additional Resources Janice Podcast Episode  Zoe Podcast Episode Connect with Jen Email: Thevoicesofcreativehealth@outlook.com Instagram: @thevoicesofcreativehealth LinkedIn: Jennifer Leslie  Podcast Contribution - Special Thanks Thank you to Tshana, Tafari, Amyrah, Nyah, Jezziah, my Mum, Eleanor, Monica and Alice, for sharing what Creative Health means to them. All audio content, recordings, and quotes from this podcast are protected under UK copyright law. No audio or quoted material may be reproduced, distributed, broadcast, or used in any form without the prior written consent from Jennifer Leslie.

  5. May 26

    Episode 18: This is Why We Train: Movement, & Community Support With guests Derrick and Delroy

    Summary In this episode with Derek and Delroy, share their fitness journeys, the impact of physical activity on well-being, and the importance of inclusivity in fitness. They discuss how age should not be a barrier to movement and share personal stories of motivation and community engagement. The conversation emphasises the need for modifications in fitness routines to accommodate all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, and highlights the cyclical nature of motivation in fitness communities. The discussion transitions to the significance of personal time for self-connection, leading to the introduction of Gorilla Gardens, a community-driven outdoor training initiative, created by Derrick and Delroy. Keywords fitness, physical activity, health, community, inclusivity, age, modifications, well-being training, exercise, Gorilla gardens, personal time, outdoor training, bodyweight workout, connection, motivation, training, family, underrepresented communities, mental health Chapters: Introduction, Community Impact & Fitness JourneysDerek & Delroy: Personal Fitness JourneysAge, Physical Activity & The Cycle of MotivationTraining vs Exercise & The Importance of Self-CareThe Birth of Gorilla Gardens & Community Co-Creation Inclusivity in Training & Accessible Movement for AllHealth, Barriers & Practical Fitness in Everyday LifeCreative Health: Youth, Women, Reflections & Wider ImpactConnect with Derrick Instagram: @Papa’s drills 2 Facebook: Papa Kwasi Agyeman TikTok: Papas_drills Connect with Delroy Instagram Connect with Jen: Email:thevoicesofcreativehealth@outlook.com Resources Corner Funding Name of Organisation The Radcliffe Trust Name of Grant: Heritage & Crafts Scheme Amount: £2,500–£7,500 Deadline: 31st July 2026 Link Events Name of Event: Heritage Crafts Organisation: Cultural Fashion and Arts CIC Date: Sunday 31st May 2026 Time@ 12pm- 4pm Location Woodgreen Shopping Mall (North London) Name of event: Great Exhibition Road Festival 2026 Date: 6-7th June Time 12pm -6pm Location: Exhibition Road- South Kensington Amount: Free Link News Creative Health CDP!!! A short course co-developed by London Arts and Health and City St George’s, University of London Link: Additional information Quadrille Dancing London Arts in Health Forum – Developing the role of culture in wellbeing All audio content, recordings, and quotes from this podcast are protected under UK copyright law. No audio or quoted material may be reproduced, distributed, broadcast, or used in any form without the prior written consent from Derrick, Delroy and Jennifer

  6. May 19

    Episode 17: Making the Invisible Visible: Creativity, Healing and Community With Guest Charlotte

    Content note: This episode includes references to infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and grief. These themes are not present throughout the entire conversation, but they are discussed at points and may be sensitive for some listeners. Summary Explore the inspiring journey of Charlotte CHW, a multidisciplinary artist and creative health advocate, as she shares her work across various art forms, her approach to community engagement, and her upcoming show at Brighton Fringe. Discover insights into creative health, participatory practices, and the power of experimentation in art. Charlotte shares her journey through creative health, exploring how art and creativity support wellbeing, especially for those experiencing invisible struggles like miscarriage. Keywords Creative health, multidisciplinary art, community engagement, Brighton Fringe, participatory practices, art therapy, movement, opera, improvisation, artistic journey creative health, wellbeing, visibility, miscarriage, artistic process, accessible creativity, mental health, artistic resilience Connect with Charlotte instagram.com/charlottechw_art Chapters 00:00 — Introduction, Identity & The Creative Journey 04:00 — Understanding Creative Health & Art Psychotherapy 11:31 — Facilitating Creativity & Multidisciplinary Practice 30:13 — Theatre, Performance & Creative Expression 40:58 — Community, Workshops & Making Art Visible 45:25 — Personal Stories, Vulnerability & Life Experience 54:43 — Creativity as Wellbeing & Therapeutic Practice 01:10:36 — Accessible Creativity, Community & Defining Creative Health Resources Corner Funding Name of grant: Grants for Good Additional note: They have added some tips on what make an application stand out - Links included in the show notes Link Events The Invitation - An evening of Kingdom Creativity: Art, Spoken Word, Poetry Link UCL Creative Health 200 – MASc Creative Health Student Conference Link On Barren Hill –work in progress Link: On Barren Hill (Work In Progress) - Brighton Fringe News Culture health and Wellbeing Alliance (CHWA) Additional Resources Fertility Network UK Brighton Fringe Change Act All audio content, recordings, and quotes from this podcast are protected under UK copyright law. No audio or quoted material may be reproduced, distributed, broadcast, or used in any form without the prior written consent from Charlotte and 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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