Over the course of three events, the University of Lincoln has played a key role in highlighting and supporting Social Prescribing initiatives. Led by the Centre for Culture and Creativity (C4CC)*, these events have engaged over 200 participants in presentations, panel discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and creative workshops focused on developing community solutions to contemporary health challenges.
The most recent event took place on 18th October 2024, a conference titled ‘What’s Next for Social Prescribing: Pathways to Tomorrow’, focused on international examples of creative health solutions, paired with tangible demonstrations of local provision.
The conference included keynotes, panel discussions and workshops led by researchers and artists. Dr Robert Dean gave expert insight on how global perspectives and indigenous knowledge connecting the health of the individual to the health of the community they live in, and environment they depend on, can feed into tackling local challenges such as health inequity and the rural-urban divide.
Delegates were offered the opportunity to participate in creative workshops, directly experiencing the health and mood benefits of nature, mood and music. Activities included sound therapy with soundLINCS, aerial explorations with Firefly, nature walks, and drumming workshops led by socially focused innovators.
On 7th December 2023, the University of Lincoln hosted its second one-day social prescribing conference, ‘Shining a Light on Social Prescribing.’ The event featured expert guest speakers and shared firsthand accounts from individuals who have benefited from social prescribing, along with award winning musicals, newly commissioned photography exhibitions and the release of charity music singles.
The conference aimed to showcase and shine a light on the power of creativity to transform lives. Delegates travelled predominantly from Greater Lincolnshire but included participants from cities as far-reaching as Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent.
Leads at Southampton Children’s Hospital gave an inspiring presentation on the outcomes and impact of social prescribing for young people aged 11-25 who have a long-term health condition.
Featured organisations includes movement-focused groups such as Linden Dance and Dance Free, music initiatives like UpBEAT! and green space advocates Green Synergy, among others.
A special photography exhibition was commissioned to shine a light on people who had engaged in social prescribing arts-based activities, as well as a special screening of award-winning musical A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) by Silent Uproar.
“A great example, of how ‘permission to play’ was important to service-users , came in a discussion about neurodivergent adults; people who had been conditioned to fit into a normative lifestyle despite it disabling them. ‘Other services can’t offer that,’ Victoria Potterton (soundLINCS) explained, referring to comparable medical provisions. Viewing Creative Health advocates as pioneers, in this regard, she added ‘eventually people will have to listen.’’ – via National Centre for Creative Health article by Jane Hearst.
Click for the full event summary by the NCCH:
Ensuring that communities remain at the core of social prescribing, while embedding creative health solutions within our communities, continues to be a key focus of our work.
We’re proud of the emotional resilience, playful expression, and forward-thinking approach that Pathways to Tomorrow and Shining a Light on Social Prescribing have helped cultivate. Our commitment to connecting industry excellence with a broader sense of belonging across Greater Lincolnshire remains strong. Creative health plays a vital role at the Arts Centre, and we’re excited to build on our successes. Stay tuned for more developments to come!
*Centre for Culture and Creativity (C4CC) – The Centre is a home and catalyst for new approaches to cultural and creative programmes. These programmes are underpinned by world-class research and result in everyday impact for places, people, policy and practice, in Lincolnshire and beyond. The C4CC is part of the University of Lincoln’s commitment to, and investment in the civic and cultural life of the county, and the national and international conversation on creativity.
** Event photography by Richard Hall.
The University of Lincoln is one of 12 universities to be included in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations. This recognition, from the foremost agency for creativity and culture, means that the University of Lincoln can now be considered one of the premier venues for arts and cultural provision in the UK. As part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations, the University deliver projects and activities through the Lincoln Arts Centre and Barbican Creative Hub.
