Evidence
Why we should engage our communities in creative activities
Outcomes:
- The arts are proven to support people in feeling better; helping with stress, pain and depression.
- Making art and creating can help distract from problems in life, encouraging a calm focus.
- Step-by-step activities give time for clear thinking and reduce anxiety.
- Completing projects is rewarding; being active encourages positive thoughts and improves mood.
- Arts activities create ways to connect to others.
- Working together reduces isolation; regular meetings give a structure to life.
- Arts participation provides ways to use, develop and maintain life skills without pressure; this raises self-esteem and confidence.
- Motivating participants to try something new develops independence in daily life.
Loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health; research shows that lacking social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
(Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: Holt-Lunstad, 2015)
The only time I could significantly reduce the pain was either when I took a large amount of painkillers or when I could concentrate on knitting.’
(Stitchlink Study: Royal United Hospital Bath, 2009)
Much of our community work is based round the 5 ways to wellbeing
- connect
- be active
- take notice
- keep learning
- give
learn more about this here-