Striving for the people of Barnsley to live fuller, healthier lives through creativity
Hosted by Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance (CHWA) and the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the partnership advocates for, supports and strengthens the creative health agenda for Barnsley.
Image credit: Michael Aiden Photography
The Partnership
This is a gathering of passionate people that are in positions that have decision making powers over strategy, policy and practise within their sectors or organisations. We work together to strengthen and support the Creative Health sector in Barnsley by seeking and sharing opportunities to influence local strategy, create connections across sectors, develop new opportunities for creative health delivery, advocate and shout about the impact of creative health interventions and source funding.
We meet every 8 weeks (online and in-person) and members include: (watch this space as we add new members for 2026!)
- ArtWorks SY
- Barnsley Civic
- Creative Recovery
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council representatives from:
- Public Health
- Libraries
- Heritage and Museums
- Culture and Visitor Economy
Co-chairs: Jon Finch (Head of Culture and Visitor Economy BMBC) and Ian Walker (Head of Public Health BMBC)
Supported by: Luisa Golob (CHWA) and Jen MacPhail (Public Health Principal BMBC).
Luisa Golob is the Barnsley Creative Health Lead employed by CHWA 3 days a week. Contact her on [email protected]
Our 2026 Actions:
Join the dots: We will convene and connect creative health practitioners and champions and engage with diverse communities to find out what people need and want.
Boost the Creative Health Infrastructure: We will ensure training is available and accessed by local practitioners and to support workforce understanding and development.
Make creativity the norm: We will use evidence and campaigns to raise awareness of creative health to increase commitment amongst strategic partners and practitioners. We will link and influence key strategies and decision making.
How to become a member of the Partnership
Every September the Partnership will review its membership and also allocate a new chair(s). If you would like to join the partnership and are in a role that has decision making powers over strategy, policy and practise then get in touch. We might review your request at the next meeting or put you forward for consideration in September.
Join the new Action Group
This is a supportive group for anyone at any level that works directly with people in Barnsley within creative health. From a singing group to a mindful gardening session, if you are directly supporting people's wellbeing through creativity then this is the group for you. The meetings will be 1 hour and will provide a supportive environment, where you decide on the agenda and as a group we unpick, challenge, support and guide each other through whatever the most prevalent issues or sources of challenge are at the time. Come to whatever date you want, stay as long as you like and bring whatever topic you need to gain the support you seek.
WHY?
We want to build, strengthen and create more connections for the creative health workforce. Often we work alone as a freelancer or in a very small under resourced team so we want to provide space to grow and support each other. The stronger our voice, the easier and louder the message to decision makers.
LINKING WITH THE CREATIVE HEALTH PARTNERSHIP
This is a group of people who are in roles that have influence on policy, strategy and practise, from CEOs of arts charities to heads of service in Public Health at the local authority. Some of these members may also be part of the action group because they are also working on the ground. Each meeting will start with the Action Group agenda, then there will be 10 minutes where both groups will come together (as one meeting ends and the other starts) to share updates on their organisations. Then we will proceed to the Partnership agenda. We will also get together once a year to plan our priorities and once a year to get creative!
You can request to spotlight your organisation or project to the Partnership also at any point. Just get in touch
2026 DATES
Wednesday 21st January 12-1pm (lunch provided) in person at Creative Recovery, Prospect Street Community Centre, Prospect Street, S70 2NR
Monday 16th March 1-2pm online
Monday 18th May 12-3pm in person (lunch provided and location tbc) as part of Creativity and Wellbeing Week. This will be a joint event with the action group and partnership members and will be creative in its delivery.
Thursday 16th July 1-2pm online
Wednesday 9th September 12-1pm in person (lunch provided and location tbc)
Thursday 5th Nov 1-2pm online
Luisa Golob will facilitate the Action Group meetings. The partnership meeting will occur the hour following the action group so any relevant points can be raised there to the members.
For more information and to get involved email [email protected]
Image credit: Barnsley Civic
Newsletters
Stay in touch with what goes on across the Borough and sign up to the below:
Barnsley Culture (sent by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council)
Socials
Watch this space for more socials in 2026
Opportunities to get out and meet people working within creative health:
Creative Recovery Artists Socials - 5.30pm - 8pm on most Wednesday evenings at the Digital Media Centre
Barnsley Civic Creative Socials - 6-8pm First Thursday of every month throughout 2025
Creative Health Activities
Check out these organisations to get involved in their regular creative health projects:
Men's Shed Inclusion in Action
Case Studies
Image credit: Barnsley Civic
