Can arts and crafts help us reconnect to ourselves and our communities?

Social Prescribing Day landed on the 19th March this year, with thousands of people taking part. With the aim of raising awareness for this incredible initiative, events were held the world over to share ideas and highlight the positive impact social prescribing has on people and communities. It is an annual celebration of the people, organisations and communities who make social prescribing happen.

So what is Social Prescribing? The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) outlines that it connects people to non-medical support to address issues and unmet needs related to overall health and wellbeing. For example, for those experiencing isolation, being connected to community groups or classes that help them feel less isolated, has the extraordinary power to improve an individual's physical and mental health outlook. Similarly, someone experiencing financial stress can be supported to find services that enable them to address these issues, empowering them on their journey to fuller health and happiness.  Furthermore, the UK is leading in culture-based social prescribing drives, and what is essentially still mostly a grass-roots movement, has evolved from niche interest to mainstream campaign.

Social prescribing can only ever be as good as the community resources available, which is why the movement has remained largely grass roots over the years. Building a thriving community of creative, practical and driven individuals and groups is one thing, but knowing about them is a whole other ball game. This is where social prescribing link workers (or 'community connectors') come in. For these individuals, it is of paramount importance to have this kind of knowledge and remain up to date with it. In order to signpost, advise, support and connect, they have to know the communities they work with inside out.

In December last year a new report was delivered by NASP with the aim of envisioning how a universal fund for social prescribing activities could be implemented, making the initiative more equitable and accessible to all; expanding it further. Rather than the now piecemeal approach to funding, a central fund would provide continuity and ensure that the support being offered meets individual needs. For our communities it would also be an investment in strengthening local resources (that means us!) long-term; giving the creative sectors important recognition in how valuable they truly are to us as humans.

At CraftCourses, we have often talked about the positive impact creative and practical pursuits have on our wellbeing (see our other blog posts here). As many of us know, using our hands in a creative way does not only bring us a sense of calm, increases happiness and lowers our stress levels; it also helps us to build a sense of real achievement, through gaining new skills and fostering more motivation in our lives. Importantly, it is also integral to our social fabric: doing things with others, learning together and interacting through creativity and practical projects, forms a supportive structure, much like we would have had historically when communities were like self sustaining microcosms.

As human beings are interdependent, social creatures, connection is important to us, as were never meant for being entirely independent of one another. It is important to remember this, not only in times of need, but as a philosophy for life; investing in others is good for us. Investing in each other is investing in community, something that is central to what we do here at CraftCourses.

This is why arts and crafts are a big part of the culture component of social prescribing, alongside music, dance, creative writing and visits to museums and libraries. The evidence clearly suggests that when we get together to make and create, we are connecting authentically and proactively contributing to our own health, as well as those around us. A holistic approach to health is the way forward!   

So, to go back to the opening question: does art and craft help us to connect to ourselves and our communities? Yes, absolutely! Through the creative process, in whatever shape or form it may be, we find out more about ourselves through self-expression and connecting to something deeper. It also has the potential to bring new friends and loved ones into our lives, by expanding our horizons when life feels closed off from us.

If this resonates with you, why not check out some of our courses and workshops from our health and wellbeing category here. Although there is a huge selection to choose from, don't let one category limit you; all of our courses and workshops have the potential to bring some much needed joy, connectivity and serenity.