FVD Consulting supports the development of the Southwark culture, health and wellbeing partnership (SCHWeP). This local partnership aims to enhance the health and wellbeing of its residents. It takes a community-based approach, and it facilitates exchange of expertise and experience across the cultural community and health and care system. Key priority areas are social prescribing, arts and health in buildings, arts and health in neighbourhoods, young people, and addressing health inequalities more broadly.
FVD Consulting provides basis strategic advice and practical support with fundraising and project management of specific commissions.
In 2021/22, the partnership has:
– Supported more than 2,0oo school children attending the Council’s Food and Fun school holiday programme, via a cultural wellbeing programme. Through this offer, local children could engage in fun creative pursuits, share their lockdown experiences through creative expression, and stimulate connectivity with local cultural assets.
– Directly engaged over 100 local residents in research projects and a further 100 local stakeholders via a partnership with King’s College London.
– Produced 4 cancer awareness films and 2 health and wellbeing maps.
(You can watch the 4 films here Speak up, Say no to cancer, Together, It’s in your hands and the maps are here and here).
– Worked directly on projects with over 30 SCHWeP members and local organisations.
– Presented at 3 major events.
This piece of work plays into Ferry van Dijk’s passion for creating social impact through culture but also for making a difference to his local community. In this video he says a bit more about SCHWeP (from 2m45s onwards):
Background
The All Party Parliamentary Group “Creative Health” report (2017) paved the way for a national movement of Arts and Health. A key recommendation was the formation of local partnerships across cultural, health and other sectors. As a direct result, in June 2019, Southwark Council Culture and Public Health teams jointly commissioned Nikki Crane Associates to conduct one of the first borough-wide arts, health and wellbeing research and engagement initiatives in the UK. The project undertook an action-research and movement building approach. It created enormous interest across all stakeholder groups. Over 100 stakeholders participated in the research.
SCHWeP was formed in March 2020 as the ‘crucible’ from which to action the recommendations and to continue the momentum. A core group of around 40 individuals and organisations mobilised to take the work forward. This partnership reflects a local recognition across all stakeholder groups of the value of arts and culture in supporting wellbeing, tackling inequalities and engaging people from all backgrounds.
Image Credits
Teenagers Creating And Maintaining Community Art Project
Photograph by Daisy Daisy
Royalty-free stock photo purchased from shutterstock.com
Still life created by a primary school aged child during Southwark’s Food and Fun school holiday programme (Christmas 2021).
Activity organised by Scribeasy.
Photograph by ProTouch.
Diverse Hands Holding The Word Wellbeing
Photograph by Rawpixel.com
Royalty-free stock photo purchased from shutterstock.com