My guests in this episode came together through a puppetry and mask making project commissioned by West Kent Mind called The Forest Project. Cath Jackson is a Wellbeing Worker and Counsellor with the charity, Dani Thompsett is a guardian and big sister who joined the course as a participant and Russell Dean is the Artistic Director of Strangeface Theatre Company.

The four of us had a lovely conversation about the work of West Kent Mind and Strangeface Theatre Company, why puppetry and mask making are beneficial to our mental health and expressing emotion, the process of making and the experiences of participants on the programme.

Links:

https://westkentmind.org.uk/

https://westkentmind.org.uk/i-want-help/creative-minds/creative-showcase/

https://www.strangeface.co.uk/

https://www.strangefacemasks.com/

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/westkentmind/

https://www.facebook.com/WestKentMind

https://www.linkedin.com/company/west-kent-mind/

https://www.instagram.com/strangeface3/

https://www.facebook.com/strangefacemasks/

Creative Health Stories on Instagram

Laura on LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ash Nugent is a celebrated artist, writer and founder of RiseUp, a charity that uses creative arts to work with people in prisons and communities. In this episode he discusses his own journey from experiencing racism in the leafy suburbs of Liverpool, finding school unsatisfactory and uninspiring to becoming a disruptive youth and ending up in a Jamaican prison at 17.

His turning point came through being open about his love of writing, finding like-minded souls and pursuing an education. This all led to starting a CIC called RiseUp to help people who find themselves on the same path as he was.

RiseUp has a team of dedicated people who use creative arts and the Hero’s Journey to help people find self-worth and a better path in life.

Ash is an excitable, passionate storyteller dedicated to supporting others and I loved our conversation!

Links:

RiseUp

LOCKS by Ashleigh Nugent published by Picador, June 2023

Socials:

Ash on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn

Creative Health Stories on Instagram

Laura on LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Kevin Fenton is a senior public health expert and infectious disease epidemiologist, who has worked in a variety of public health executive leadership roles across government and academia in the UK and internationally, including taking a leading role in London’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year honours list for services to public health.

Kevin is so articulate and generous with his knowledge about what 'public health' is in its widest sense and how it affects us on a daily basis. We run through 10 essential concepts Kevin believes can help improve health, save lives, and reduce inequalities in communities around the world and he provides really helpful connections to creative arts and his own experiences. Along with Public Health and Creative Health, the concepts are: Equity, Racism, Wellbeing, Resilience, Mindfulness, Mental Health, Self Care and Gratitude.

Kevin demonstrates his passion and belief in the role that the arts and culture have on our individual and community lives.

Links:

Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

Public Health, NHS London

UK Faculty of Public Health

Kevin's socials:

Instagram: @ProfKevinFenton

LinkedIn: @ProfKevinFenton

X: @ProfKevinFenton

TikTok: @ProfKevinFenton

Creative Health Stories socials:

Instagram: @creativehealthstories

LinkedIn: @LauraBaileyCreativeHealth

If you want to share your own creative health story, you can now do so on the website. Visit https://creative-health.co.uk/stories/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.