Biblio.life is a new digital service aiming to improve wellbeing by connecting readers with book curators who make personalised recommendations of fiction intended to offer them a fresh perspective on life.
The London Voluntary Service Council has published a map showing the different models of social prescribing in London as part of a wider review of social prescribing.
The map is based on the results of a survey of providers showing different prescribing models, how they operate, are funded or commissioned, work in partnership and monitor and evaluate the impact of their initiatives. It will be updated as current social prescribers develop, others come to light and new ones emerge.
An alliance of London health commissioners has published Better Health for London: One Year On analysing progress on linking health and social care in London.
The report shows progress against the ten ambitions for London’s health set out by the London Health Commission including improved outcomes in mental health and in children’s health.
Creative and Credible is a new resource to support evaluation activity across the arts and health sector, guiding people through arts and health evaluation, answering questions such as: ‘What is evaluation?’ and ‘How will evaluation benefit me?’
The Department of Health has produced new guidance for people working in the care sector to help people achieve control over their own care. The report, called ‘Voice, choice and control’ calls for the provision of “opportunities to take part in community life, including engaging in activities which match their interests, skills and abilities.”
The Alzheimer’s Society has published new guidance to help arts venues to make their facilities and services more accommodating for people affected by dementia.
Kent County Council and the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health are hosting a formal launch of research into group singing and mental health.
A group of international organisations have joined forces to mark November as Arts and Health Month. Led by Arts Health Network Canada and The Australia Centre for Arts and Health the initiative is designed to bring attention internationally to the field of arts in health.
Arts in health organisation Creativity Works has created a touring public art project giving the public the opportunity to write down and then shred their anxieties before the shredded paper is created into a large-scale public sculpture.
The Worry Disposal Unit is led by artist Megan Clark-Bagnall, and part of a range of new artistic commissions called PENTAGON: a commission of five new pieces of socially engaged art across Bath and North East Somerset – taking place in Twerton, Keynsham, Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Peasedown St John.
A new resource from Public Health England is designed to help local organisations measure the mental wellbeing of children and young peoples. It also recommends drawing on local resources to enhance wellbeing, including through creative, community and physical activities.
