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.
“This work doesn’t just change lives, it saves lives”
– Participant
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.
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.
Further Reading
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
Barnsley DMC
If you are struggling and could do with some support, connection and a boost, join us for 'reet good night out' - with a difference!
In a chilled, social atmosphere, artists and musicians join us for a fun, creative evening.
Each Arts Café offers a soul-warming blend of art, music, comedy, poetry and food.
We are a community that meets because we believe that connecting with others and being creative is great for our wellbeing!
We welcome families too!
£2 admission (goes back into the project)
No booking required - just turn up!
St Paul's Church hall, St Paul's Church, St Paul's Road, Barnsley S75 2TF Map
Feeling a bit down, stuck, or like you’re not quite yourself? Come and UPLIFT your spirits.
Have a sing, make some friends, enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit, and leave with a spring in your step!
We sing together because it makes us feel good!
No auditions • No solos • All ages & abilities welcome
No booking required, just turn up!
Creative Recovery, 11 Prospect Street, Barnsley S70 2NR Map
Feeling stuck, isolated or in need of a boost?
We've got a Friday night social for music makers and music lovers to give you a lift.
Whether you play an instrument, want to learn or write a song, or simply want to meet others who share a passion for music, head along to the Friday JAM project.
Each week we are joined by local musicians - bringing different styles and influences - responding to the group’s interests and tastes.
It will be an opportunity to learn new skills, connect over tunes and brews and explore how music can support your own wellbeing and recovery.
The project is free to attend.
Library at the Lightbox, Barnsley
A Creative Recovery community event featuring spoken word performances inspired by The Moth storytelling phenomenon.
In My Own Words returns with a new cohort of storytellers ready to share their heartfelt tales of lived experiences.
With live music and refreshments, join us for an evening of beautifully crafted words that celebrate the diversity and commonality of human experience.
Donate
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.
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.
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, Bishop Stephen Race, Jane Smith, Phoebe Wallace, Catherine Huby, Tracey Johnson-Murphy (Chair), Kate Raynor, Albert Smith, and Luisa Fletcher.
Core Team
Helen Boutle– Arts Development Director
Steph Cronin-Milne – Company Manager
Corinne White– Referral Manager
Helen Elmsall-Needham– Finance Manager
Project Leaders
Catherine Copley – Reading Together and Performance / Theatre / Acting 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 – Choir Lead and Support ( across projects)