A new Creative Health Impact Framework for arts, cultural, voluntary and community sector organisations.
Across London, arts-focused voluntary, charitable, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are delivering activities that have a huge impact on people’s health. They support people who experience health inequalities and improve the lives of many across the city every day.
With funding from the Mayor of London and in partnership with South East London’s Integrated Care System, London Plus led on the development of a new framework to improve cross-sector collaboration. Designed to support voluntary, community and social enterprise, arts, and cultural organisations, this toolkit offers tangible approaches to plan for, evidence, and communicate impact to health partners in relation to inequalities and health improvement.
As a GP, I’ve seen how loneliness, stress, and chronic illness affect people’s lives — and I’ve also seen how creative activities can bring real relief, connection, and even transformation.
That’s why I’m so pleased to see the Creative Health Impact Framework — developed by London Plus and funded by the Greater London Authority — brought to life, offering the tools and evidence we need to build even stronger bridges between health services and the creative sector.
We must recognise the wider forces that shape people’s health. Local creative industries have a powerful role to play — not only in helping people get healthier, but in nurturing talent and ensuring everyone has the chance to fulfil their potential, no matter where they live.
Arts and culture can really improve Londoners’ wellbeing. But how to prove it? This great new framework will help us tell those impact stories and develop stronger relationships with health partners, as we continue to build a healthier London for everyone.
The free and open resource offers templates, tips, and a guide for a scaled approach to evaluating health impact of arts activities. It is a practical companion which we hope will enable greater collaboration between health, arts and community organisations, to better support Londoners.
As part of their year as London Borough of Culture 2025, Wandsworth will be using the framework to better tell their impact stories. We'll be watching with interest to see how they use this tool to stimulate conversations, build relationships and deliver health improvements.
Delve in, explore how you might use it, and share with your local VSCE and arts organisations!
Image credit - Breathe Arts Health Research