A group of white adults facing the camera with both arms in the air.

Unlock your creativity and be part of a community

About Creative Recovery

Welcome!

For over 12 years Creative Recovery has been bringing people together over shared passions!  This connection and being part of a vibrant, accepting community feels more important than ever right now.  

We are a grassroot charity based in Barnsley that uses creativity to support mental health and recovery, boost well-being, build communities and bring about social change.  We believe that we all hold creative potential and nurturing our creativity can keep us hopeful and well.

A group of people in a parade holding a white banner with 'Creative Recovery' in black text.

“This work doesn’t just change lives, it saves lives”
– Participant

A tree with dark green leaves with words painted in white on some branches.

Why Creativity?

Being creative helps you feel better. It sparks curiosity, soothes the mind, broadens horizons and reconnects us with the world.

From lowering blood pressure to releasing ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain, there is strong evidence today that being creative is great for your health!

Being creative can also help us to find our voice.

We find new ways to express ourselves and our emotions and beliefs, which can help us to reconnect with others, build better relationships and be part of a collective voice for change; be it advocating for better services, challenging stigma or having difficult conversations.

We also find we can share our stories and reclaim our narratives, which builds confidence to be ourselves, helping us to relate to others in a positive way and have more autonomy over our own lives, too.

Close up of a wooden birdhouse.
A group of white people singing outside, in front of a building.

Due to things that happen in our lives, we often forget to be playful and creative.

We may also believe that we are not artistic, so we can’t get involved.

However, creativity is within us all … it’s just the case of finding ways to unlock it.

And remember creativity is found in everyday tasks and choices – in the meals you cook, the clothes you wear, the plants we nurture, the songs we holler in the shower – so start small, explore what feels good and join us!

“It has given me a real lift and made me feel hopeful. Hope is important right now”

– Participant, Blow Out The Blues, 2021

Looking for inspiration?

During the pandemic, with support of Creative Minds, we developed the ‘7 Days of…’ programme, a series of online resources to inspire creative wellbeing activities at home or with others.

Themes include 7 Days of Hope, 7 Days of Sound and many more…

Download each pack by clicking on the images below.

Each PDF pack provides inspiration, ideas, and activities to help you explore creativity and wellbeing in different ways.

What we do

Core Programme

Our Core Programme offers extra support for people with mental health issues.

This can be via self-referral or through a health professional.

If you are interested in Core Projects the first step is to arrange a meet up.

During a relaxed 1-to-1 chat at our town centre base you can tell us about the things that inspire you, and you can find out more about us too.

To start your journey simply call/text 07916 282 064 leaving your name, and a member of our team will call you back (we aim to respond within 2 weeks) or email: participate@creativerecovery.co.uk

Community Drop-ins

These weekly creative gatherings support mental health and well-being and provide valuable social time for our community.

We invite new people to drop-in and join us.

We ask regulars to complete a short registration form while at the project.

“I enjoy singing so I decided to join and soon realised that it was a good move. The choice of the title, UPLIFT, was obviously chosen wisely. It has certainly worked for me”
– Participant Uplift Choir

Green Wellbeing

Bringing a ‘breath of fresh air’, through connection with nature and creative events in green spaces.

If you are socially isolated, if your mental health is in need of a boost or if you are a carer you can register to receive information about our regular Green Wellbeing Events.

Just text ‘Go Green’ to 07916 282 064 and a member of our team will ring you back to complete a 10 minute form.

You will start receiving information about the Green UPLIFT Programme, our ‘Rewilding the Mind’ wanders, Allotment Socials and our Walking Group.

“I enjoyed the day so much I was crying happy tears in my car on the way home. A happy day.”

– Participant, Green Uplift

Specialist Work

Events

Here’s what’s happening at our gaff and out in the community.
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

No upcoming events

We make a little go a long way! If you’d like to help us to continue with our work in changing peoples lives, please make a donation by clicking the image opposite.

Blue-purple background with white text reading donate with JustGiving.

Work With Us

We’re lucky enough to work in partnership with several health and cultural organisations across Yorkshire, but we are always keen to develop new work and partnerships, particularly in response to issues and needs as they arise.

We love to collaborate with partners that share our values, passion and who aren’t afraid to try something new!

If you’ve got a project you would like to collaborate with us on, or if you’d like us to create something fabulous especially for you, just get in touch!

Current Opportunities and Jobs

Creative Recovery strives to be an inclusive, diverse and representative organisation and community. We grew out of our lived experiences and a drive to address the inequalities and discrimination faced by people from communities who have been unheard and marginalised. We welcome applications from people identifying with any of the protected characteristics as defined in the in 2010 Equality Act, or from working class backgrounds.

 

Accessibility is important to us, and we welcome applications and interviews in different formats. Please do get in touch if we can support in anyway at wearecreativerecovery@gmail.com.  

As we grow as an organisation and make a home in a new community base, we are looking for more trustees to broaden the skills, knowledge and experience of our committed. 

We are at a point in the life of Creative Recovery when we wish to reflect and reimagine our work. We hope our new trustees will help us to refine our vision and direct us towards a more sustainable future embracing the many new opportunities that are currently emerging.

Our March deadline has passed, however, we are always open to hear from people who would be interested in being part of our board.

Please email wearecreativerecovery@gmail.com.

Meet The Team

Creative Recovery is run by a small and dedicated staff team and trustee board, which is supported by a collective of imaginative and caring artists and practitioners, bringing a broad and extensive experience of working across the arts, culture, health and wellbeing sectors.

We are award-winning. Creative Recovery co-founders, artists and projects have received local and national recognition for innovation, public service and social impact.

Trustees

Adam Speight, Neil Moreton, Sean Brady, David Sinclair, Bishop Stephen Race, Louise Lovedon, Jane Smith and Steph Cronin-Milne (Chair)

Lead Artists

Helen Boutle 

Project artists and leaders

Catherine Copley – Reading Together and Performance / Theatre / Acting and Support (across Projects)
Corinne White – Referral Manager and Support (across projects)
Dalgas Klein – Musician / Friday Jam Lead
Helen Boutle – Live Arts Cafe / Things to Live For / Art Studio Groups / Green Wellbeing
James Dey – Musician / Criminal Justice Lead
Joanne O’Connor – Artist and Support ( across projects)
Lorna Szkliniarz – People Grower, Uplift Central Area
Simon Grainger – Musician / Uplift Choir Lead

If the idea of becoming a volunteer or a trustee floats your boat, do drop us a line – we’d love to hear from you!

Important Dates

Deadline for applications:  Friday 21 April, 2023

Interviews : To be arranged with candidates, w/c 24 April.