Since 2023 the South Yorkshire Creative Health Board has acted as a vehicle to bring together creative health across the four boroughs in South Yorkshire, represented by the Barnsley Creative Health Partnership, Doncaster Arts & Health Board, Rotherham Creative Health Board and Sheffield Creative Health Board. 

"South Yorkshire is rich in Creative Health expertise and assets, leading impactful work that supports our diverse communities and narrows health inequalities" (Rachel Leslie, Chair, SY Creative Health Board / Deputy Director of Public Health at Doncaster Council)

Photo credit: © James Mulkeen for darts

The Creative Health sector in South Yorkshire is ready and able to play a core strategic role in health creation in our region. Changes in the policy landscape related to health and devolution offer opportunities for Creative Health to become embedded in new delivery structures and systems. The Creative Health sector in South Yorkshire has a track record of delivering impactful projects that improve lives. Our Creative Health Boards provide the scaffolding to support the development of a cost-effective, impactful Creative Health System across the region.

Phase 1: July 2023-July 2025

In 2023 a group of Creative Health providers from across South Yorkshire, supported by the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, presented a paper to South Yorkshire Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), making the case for more joined-up and sustainable working across the county. The following year, the ICP gave them a mandate to form a Board and develop an Enabling Plan. You can read the Enabling Plan here.

Phase one included: 

• Strengthening infrastructure through four Creative Health Boards in each local authority area
• Forming a South Yorkshire Creative Health Board (SYCH Board), administrated by the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance
• Investment from all four local authorities, SYMCA and Arts Council England, securing a dedicated role, building capacity
• Stakeholder Events in each locality, building partnerships, raising awareness, strengthening networks
• Gaining a positive national reputation for this strategic approach

Phase 2: July 2025-July 2027

In Phase 2, we will build on existing good practice and opportunities. For example, Barnsley is innovating new approaches to workforce development; Doncaster is host to a £2.1million research programme with their trailblazing Creative Health Board model; Rotherham is leading the way in commissioning Creative Health for Children and Young People; in Sheffield, creative health is integrated into the city’s new Culture Strategy and there is a large and thriving ecology of practice with diverse communities, from grassroots through to hospital arts programmes.

We aim to bolster the resilience, breadth and impact of the sector through cross-sector partnerships, training, increased resource and improved infrastructure. We will:

• Continue to demonstrate South Yorkshire’s leadership as an emerging Creative Health System, platforming our work with national partners, conferences and networks
• Continue to add value, securing blended funding to develop and sustain projects that tackle complex problems caused by health inequalities
• Contribute to the development of vibrant neighbourhood health services through the wealth of grassroots, neighbourhood and community based Creative Health projects
• Connect isolated practitioners and projects to share skills, resources and support
• Support system change, through creative approaches to connecting networks, bridging gaps, cross-sector training, and nourishing systems and people

Members of the South Yorkshire Creative Health Board (as at August 2026):

• Chair: Rachael Leslie, Director of Public Health, City of Doncaster Council
• Vice Chair: currently recruiting to this role
• South Yorkshire Creative Health Lead: Rachel Massey, Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance
• Thahmina Begum, freelance practitioner
• Kate Davis, Crossroads Rotherham
• Professor Chris Dayson, Professor of Voluntary Action, Health and Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University
• Karen Durham, Senior Relationship Manager, Arts Council England
• Jon Finch, Head of Culture and Visitor Economy, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC)
• Andy Gates, Director of Development, Collaboration and Culture, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)
• Luisa Golob, Barnsley Creative Health Lead, Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance
• Polly Hamilton, Assistant Director, Culture Sport and Tourism, Rotherham Council
• Susan Hampshaw, Director, Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), Doncaster
• Marianna Hargreaves, Director of Strategy and Partnerships NHS South Yorkshire
• Karen Harrison, Health Improvement Principal, Public Health, Sheffield City Council
• Christine Joy, Chief People Officer, SYICB
• Jen McPhail, Public Health Principal, BMBC
• Steven Pleasant, Health Life Expectancy Lead, SYMCA
• Lucy Robertshaw, Director (Creative Health), darts
• Victoria Ryves, Head of Culture and Engagement, Wentworth Woodhouse
• Karen Smith, VCSE Programme Director, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (SYICB)
• Helen Steers, Voluntary Action Sheffield
• Kim Streets, Chief Executive, Sheffield Museums Trust
• Emilie Taylor, freelance practitioner
• Professor Renée Timmers, Professor of Psychology of Music, University of Sheffield