Communities take the lead in Creative Wellbeing innovation in Chelmsford
Communities across Chelmsford have taken bold new steps to put creativity at the heart of health and wellbeing, thanks to an innovative grant-making pilot backed by £50,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
In January 2025, over 40 local residents came together to co-design a series of grassroots projects linking creativity with social prescribing—a growing approach that connects people to creative and social activities to improve mental and physical health. 18 powerful pilot projects, delivered by and for local people, engaged more than 20,000 people both online and in person.
This pioneering programme was led by Culture Chelmsford in partnership with Chelmsford CVS, with funding support from Chelmsford City Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The initiative was rooted in a new approach to community-led grant making. Every project aimed to explore how creativity—from street art to storytelling—could actively improve wellbeing.
Highlights from the pilot projects included:
Chelmsford Creative Collective co-created a striking mural at Anglia Ruskin University working with older adults in the community, blending engagement, street art and academic research.
Ideas Hub Chelmsford launched new inclusive walking trails, Discover Chelmsford to support diverse communities to develop a sense of connection to the city and improve physical and mental health.
Bubu’s Community Hub ran a series of vibrant events—from Bhangra for All to World Storytelling Day—bringing people together to eat, move, create, and share.
Many participants shared that the pilots had enabled them to explore new ways to be creative and how this could better support their ongoing wellbeing. Feedback from participants who attended the sharing event in January focused on how useful it had been to feed into other people’s projects, make local connections to resolve issues, and generate new creative opportunities.
The grant programme was one of a series of recommendations from a new piece of research commissioned by Culture Chelmsford into existing social prescribing opportunities within Chelmsford. The primary research question for the report was: “What does existing social prescribing for culture and health across Chelmsford look like and how could it be strengthened?” Working with Anglia Ruskin University, the research was commissioned to achieve one of the goals of the district’s 2023 Cultural Strategy. The strategy sets out a bold vision for Chelmsford: empowering communities to shape Chelmsford’s creative future while boosting local pride and wellbeing.
Claire Gevaux, Chief Executive of Culture Chelmsford, said:
“We believe creativity belongs to everyone—and these pilots prove it can also be a powerful tool for wellbeing. Whether you’re dancing in your kitchen or joining a community art project, the benefits are real. We’re proud that Chelmsford’s communities are leading the way in showing how creative health can be co-designed, inclusive and impactful.”
Councillor Natacha Dudley, Chelmsford City Council Cabinet Member for an Active Chelmsford and Chair of the Livewell Health and Wellbeing Group, said:
“Chelmsford City Council is pleased to have supported this project to secure funding for local communities to experiment with social prescribing initiatives.
“We’re still learning about the power of social prescribing in creating healthier and happier communities, and these pilot projects run by Culture Chelmsford and Chelmsford CVS have been a critical step in exploring the benefits of this approach for Chelmsford. Participant feedback has really highlighted how successfully communities can come together to be creative collectively, and most importantly, the real positive impact this can have on our wellbeing.”
Edith Miller, CEO of Ideas Hub Chelmsford, said:
“We were anticipating positive results, but the impact of the walks exceeded our expectations. A genuine sense of belonging was created, and the improvement in participants’ wellbeing was almost palpable. We’re grateful our project was selected to be part of this important initiative.”
For more information about the projects and the Cultural Strategy please see www.culturechelmsford.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. Social prescribing involves healthcare services referring individuals to cultural or social organisations to support their physical and mental wellbeing. This innovative approach seeks to integrate arts, heritage, and creativity into health strategies, offering alternatives to traditional medical interventions.
2. The full selection of awarded pilot projects is listed below:
· Anglia Ruskin University: U Theatre Vibes: Express, Engage, Empower; Creative Calm
· Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Project: Empowering Artists: Workshops for Chelmsford’s Book Week
· Bubu’s Community Hub: Create and Connect; Bhangra for All; World Storytelling Day; International Women’s Day 2025; The Elijah Project (Eat, Move, Rest)
· Bam Bam Boogies: Move It 2025; Boys Club (Street Dance)
· Chelmsford Creative Collective: Mural project: Bridging generations through Street Art
· Essex Community Diversity Project: Arts & Health in Chelmsford
· Ideas Hub Chelmsford: Discover Chelmsford
· Sade Fadipe: Weaving Stories Building Bridges
· Sanctus Charity: Expressing Ourselves For All To See; Art in the Face of Adversity
· SWF Community Hub: South Woodham Ferrers Community Hub Development
· SWF Health & Social Care Group: Impact of Covid on Dying; Death & Bereavement
3. The UKSPF is a major regeneration fund which aims to contribute to Levelling Up by providing financial assistance to capital and revenue projects which boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, particularly in deprived areas, as well as restoring a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where this has been lost.
4. Chelmsford Creative Collective’s Pilot: Mural project: Bridging generations through Street Art, created by Candy Joyce of Chelmsford Creative Collective, Scott Brave of Brave Arts with older people in Chelmsford now permanently celebrates Anglia Ruskin Universities Connecting Worlds research programme, at their Chelmsford Campus.
Culture Chelmsford are agents of change. We test and push how cultural decisions are made in our city by ensuring local and marginalised voices access authentic decision-making through co-design and co-delivery. Since launching Chelmsford's first district-wide cultural strategy in 2023 (co-created with local organisations and communities), we have brought together young people, creatives, marginalised communities and cultural partners to transform how our city makes decisions about its creative future. We are leading new ways of working to improve civic pride in the district through wellbeing, community cohesion, creative infrastructure, skills, capacity and governance.
Website: www.culturechelmsford.org.uk
Contact: hello@culturechelmsford.org.uk
Chelmsford CVS is an independent charity set up to champion, support and strengthen local charities, voluntary and community groups. We offer expert information and personalised support to enable local people to develop the skills needed to run successful voluntary groups. We spread good practice, encourage joint working, and promote equality and diversity by fostering a wider understanding of the needs of disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We help public bodies to engage effectively with communities and ensure policy makers understand and consider the needs of the Third Sector. We work locally and in collaboration with other partners across Essex, Southend and Thurrock to maximize voluntary and community action, develop strong communities and enhance local wellbeing. We host numerous different projects across Chelmsford City, its villages, South Woodham Ferrers and beyond. These include Social Prescribing; the Chelmsford Volunteer Centre, and Chelmsford Connects.
Website: https://chelmsfordcvs.org.uk/
Learn more about the programme, its initial research and outcomes:
https://www.culturechelmsford.org.uk/culture-and-health
For more press information please contact:
Emma Barrow, Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Culture Chelmsford
Email: emma@culturechelmsford.org.uk
