Projects and Experience
Current Projects
I am consulting on Art:Up!, a project with the University of Essex and Essex Book Festival, where I will be facilitating writing workshops designed to support writers, neurodiverse people and the poetry-curious to express themselves through poetry. The project includes open mic events at locations across Essex, more details at the link in the title above.
I facilitate fortnightly air-drying clay workshops at Arthur’s Shed, the community outreach venue at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity in Cambridge. The sessions are free to attend and a gentle way to get to grips with hand-building and decorating without the technical complications of fired ceramics.
Since 2024 I have been working annually as a sculptor at the Bury Folk Festival, weaving with willow, cane, and foraged natural resources. Through collaboration and with gentle guidance, the free-form sculpture has been added to by festival-goers of all ages and is now a permanent feature of the walled garden at the festival site in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds.
Creative Producer, CUH Arts, Cambridge University Hospitals NHSFT 2020-2023
Design, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based programme of creative wellbeing events, resources and projects for staff in a large teaching hospital, aligned with corporate strategy staff wellbeing priorities. Working with Equality Diversity and Inclusion team and Staff Networks to ensure diverse and inclusive programming. Broad-reaching participatory arts opportunities, bespoke smaller group-work for teams with specific needs, facilitation of expressive writing workshops for reflection and self-care, contracting external artists for various projects. Digital communications including web design and copy writing, social media management and monitoring, internal communications and newsletter.
Current Role: Arts in Health
I am currently working for the CUH Arts team at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as Creative Producer which involves leading the creative wellbeing programming for staff, and supporting live and participatory projects for patients and the wider hospital community through the height of the pandemic.
Guest Lecturer, University of Derby, 2020 - 2023
In 2020 I was invited to give a 90-minute online lecture to a cohort of undergraduate BSc Counselling and Psychotherapy students, introducing them to the principles of Arts for Health and Wellbeing for their module Creative Connections. Since then I have also delivered lectures online and in person to several cohorts on the BA Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing programme about my Arts in Health work in the NHS with a focus on evaluation strategies.
-
Expressive Arts vs. Arts Therapies
-
Current research and evidence for Arts, Health and Wellbeing
-
Personal and professional experience in the field
-
Applications for reflective practice and creative supervision for therapeutic practitioners
-
Evaluation approaches to optimise arts in health
-
Experiential activities and opportunity to reflect
Creative Wellbeing
12-week hospice placement 2019-2020
With a student colleague I designed and co-facilitated a 12-week series of creative wellbeing workshops in an adult end-of-life hospice in Derbyshire. This included:
-
Expressive art
-
Collaborative projects
-
Creating soundscapes
-
Object handling
-
Poetry
-
Guided imagery
-
Sculpture
Pathfinders Camp, Woodlarks
Annual volunteer, 2004-2022
For the first ten years I volunteered with Pathfinders my role was as a volunteer carer, supporting individuals with a range of disabilities with their daily care and to fully engage in the camp's rich program of activities, chores, games and outings.
My skills and NHS experience led me to become a member of the Health and Wellbeing Team within the charity, with more involvement in the planning of each camp throughout the year, mentoring and training new volunteers to learn care skills, promoting wellbeing and assisting with creative activities.
More information about Pathfinders Camp and Woodlarks Campsite Trust where it takes place can be accessed via the links below.
GreenStage
Community Events
Sessional Volunteer
2015 - 2018
​
I discovered GreenStage through a regular music session I used to sing at, and offered my creative and practical skills to support their inclusive, accessible community creative events. My role included transport and assembly of their unique sustainable timber A-frame structures, musical performance, and facilitating free participatory creative sessions.
Use the link below to find out more.