This autumn, every Barclays Premier League football club, will be taking part in a project to increase awareness of community and not for profit groups. Part of the project will see players visiting local community organisations and making cash donations to suitable charities. For more information about the

Scheme, Creating Chances Places for Players 2008/09, please visit:  www.premierleague.com/page/CreatingChances

This year’s Arts ‘n’ Care conference will take place on Thursday 30 October in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

The day long event looks at the ways in which the arts can be used to improve communication and build confidence and self-esteem among mental health service users. Including workshops, speeched and performances from Sound Minds, Lapidus, John Hegley and CandoCo among others, the day is suitable for organisations and individuals looking to employ the arts in their provision of mental health services.

For more details, visit: www.rightthing.co.uk

An exhibition of artist Susan Aldworth’s latest work, including a number of pieces created on location at the Royal London Hospital, will take place from 26 July to 17 August at the Transition Gallery, E8. The work explores the nature of consciousness by utilising the technology associated with brain scans and the techniques of etching to explore personality, identity and self.

This year’s Big Draw will take place from 26 to 28 September and will utilise the theme, Drawing on Life. The national launch will take place at the Wellcome Collection, other Big Draw partners include Queen Mary, University of London and University College London.

w: www.thebigdraw.org.uk

The Sidney de Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health is hosting a conference to explore the possible health benefits of active participation in music making and singing.

The conference, which aims to provide an overview of current developments in research into music and health, will take place from the 9th – 10th September in Folkestone. Keynote speakers include Professor Gene Cohen from The Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University Medical Center and Dr Gary Ansdell from the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre.

For more details, visit: www.canterbury.ac.uk/centres/sidney-de-haan-research/conference

A new ‘London culture and 2012’ guide has been published by the London Cultural Consortium, containing details of funding opportunities and other potential collaborations open to artists and arts organisations in the run up to the Olympic Games in 2012.

The guide also includes details about how to be involved in the Cultural Olympiad and CREATE08, a collective arts programme for the Olympic Host Boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

To download a copy of the guide, visit: www.london.gov.uk/lcc/publications.jsp

Women’s Design Service has invited women to submit entries for an art competition on the theme of safety in the built environment. Entries will be exhibited on their website and will inform debate about safety and design. Prizes will be awarded for the best submissions. The closing date for entries is Friday 12 September.

For further details, e: hcarty@wds.org.uk

Telford & Wrekin Council has issued a brief for an artist to undertake a pilot project to examine the health needs and issues within the Asian community in the area. Artists require experience working on relevant arts and health projects and language skills in Urdu and Punjabi.

There is a total budget £10, 000 which could be split between a number of artists who meet the criteria.The deadline for expressions of interest is 23 July, for further information, e: helen.chesters@telford.gov.uk t: 01952 382367 / 07800 671712

LAHF is looking for projects and innovative practice to showcase in its autumn and winter events later this year. If you have ideas for potential events - or issues you would like to examine with others working in arts and health, do please contact Damian@lahf.org.uk with suggestions.

Jackie Sands, Arts and Health Coordinator for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is looking to get in touch with fellow LAHF members who have addressed issues surrounding Agenda for Change banding grades for NHS Arts and Health Coordinators. She is keen to communicate with anyone who has already made recommendations for an Arts and Health Agenda for Change Key skills Framework. To get in touch, e: Jackie.sands@ggc.scot.nhs.uk