Norfolk and Suffolk: Region of Creative Health (RoCH)

Arts Council England has awarded £350,000 towards a two-year project, Norfolk and Suffolk: Region of Creative Health. This multi-partner project will work across cultural, creative, health, social care, education and innovation sectors to bring the health and wellbeing benefits of culture and creativity to more people.

You can read more about the award announcement here: Creative Health Region – Funding

The Region of Creative Health (RoCH) was launched during a panel discussion at the Norfolk and Suffolk Healthcare Expo in July, which featured Alex Casey, CEO from Suffolk Artlink, Jayne Knight, Project Manager: Place Making (Creative Health & Wellbeing), Suffolk County Council, Natalie Jode, CEO of Creative Arts East and Sophie O’Connor, Producer, Creative Health & Communities at DanceEast.

Click here to read more about the Creative Health Panel Discussion in July to launch the RoCH. 

Phase 1 2026 – 2028: System Shift: Giving Creativity the Green Light

Over the next two years:

• Establish shared regional leadership across NHS, public health, local authorities, Academia, VCSE and the cultural sector.
• Embed creative health within Integrated Care System (ICS) strategies, Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and prevention plans.
• Agree a common language and evidence framework for creative health outcomes. Prototype scalable models that connect communities, clinicians and health, social care and creative practitioners.

The ambition:

• Help people stay well for longer
• Support those living with long-term conditions
• Reduce loneliness and isolation
• Make creative opportunities available to more people

Outcome by 2028: Creativity is formally recognised as a core contributor to population health outcomes across Norfolk & Suffolk.

The Region of Creative Health (RoCH) has been shaped across three distinct areas:

• Thought Leadership – Led by Natalie Jode, CEO of Creative Arts East
• Commission Readiness – Led by Alex Casey, CEO of Suffolk Artlink
• Skills & Workforce Development – Led by Claire Atherton, Creative Health & Equity Lead for Norfolk and Suffolk

You can read more about the plans for each area here:

For ways to keep informed about the work of the RoCH:

• Sign up to the Norfolk & Suffolk Creative Health Mailing List
• Come along and add your voice to Creative Health Interest Meetings (CHIMe)