Who are we?

Since 2010, CNWL Arts in Health has successfully developed, led, and delivered numerous projects and programmes that integrate the creative arts into mental healthcare for the therapeutic benefit of participants. We are a team of clinicians and artists offering a variety of artistic spaces and cultural opportunities to inspire creativity and promote wellness for staff, participants, and the community. 

Co-production is at the heart of what we do. This means participants and staff working together to develop and shape our service, rather than staff making decisions alone. This is one of the reasons we provide a ‘community table’ so that we can regularly connect and build ideas together.  

In addition to this, we also have an annual 1:1 review with participants to reflect on their personal development. We love to share the work that participants create and regularly invite them to contribute to our fortnightly inbox inspirations, termly newsletter, and annual exhibition. 

The aims of our service are: 

  • To be an inclusive space 
  • To improve access to the arts 
  • To make a positive difference for adults with lived experiences of mental health difficulties 

If you are interested in finding out more about joining our service or learning more about the referral process, please feel free to reach out to us by emailing cnwlartsinhealth@nhs.net

What we offer

Creative exchange, Our free monthly group visits to art galleries and cultural institutions across London provide the opportunity to engage with the arts and spend time with likeminded others.
Art studio, Our 2-hour monthly art studio provides the opportunity to experiment with different art materials and meet others in-person in an informal and welcoming space.  Community Table   Our open forum for participants invites them to share, connect, and build ideas using arts-based methods to express feedback and develop the future of the service.

We work with adults who have been accessing mental health services at CNWL, whether arts or talking psychotherapy, who have ongoing needs and who would like to use creativity to support their wellbeing. This can be during or after discharge from CNWL mental health services.

We work with those living in Central London (Kensington, Chelsea, and Westminster) and North West London (Brent, Harrow, and Hillingdon). 

New referrals are currently paused.

If you are interested in participating in our service, please email us and we will register your interest. With your permission, we will then contact your CNWL care coordinator / lead professional so they can refer you. 

If you are a CNWL professional, please email us, and we will direct you to the Arts in Health referral page on Trustnet, where you can find further details and a referral form.  

Any questions? Please email the Arts in Health team on cnwlartsinhealth@nhs.net 

Click on a face to learn more about the team.

CNWL Arts in Health team (1).png 

Who runs the Arts in Health sessions? 

The Arts in Health team are a warm and welcoming mixture of therapists, mental health practitioners, and artists, supported by volunteers with an interest in mental health and the arts. More information about us can be found in the 'Our Team' section above. 

Can I join remotely? 

Yes, we run an online group called ‘Creative Exchange Online’ on Zoom, alongside our in-person activities. 

Do I have to join every session? 

There is no pressure to join every session, although we recommend joining regularly to gain the most benefit. 

Do I need a background in art to join? 

No experience in art is necessary, just an open mind and a willingness to take part is needed. We have lots of ideas and ways to help you to be creative, at a pace that works for you.  

Do I have to share my artwork with others? 

We love to see what you create, but there is no pressure to share your artwork with us or the group. We invite participants to include their artwork in our termly newsletters and annual exhibition. 

Are you currently hiring staff or honoraries?

We have an ongoing, rolling application open for Honorary Project Workers. These are voluntary team members able to travel to Greater London that can offer up to one day a week (flexible on hours), on a Monday or Friday, to support the running of our service in person and remotely. Flexible working is offered with some team zoom meetings.  

Honoraries are typically trainee therapists or mental health practitioners looking to gain more experience working in the creative arts, mental health, or participatory engagement. Please email us to express your interest or find out more about how to apply.  

How do I contact you if I have other questions? 

Please email the Arts in Health team on cnwlartsinhealth@nhs.net

Our news 

Previous collaborations

Organisations CNWL Arts in Health has previously collaborated with: