Living Well with Chronic Pain
About the Programme
Participants in this programme benefit from getting creative with other people who understand.
People can choose from in-person or online courses which include lots of options – they can work collaboratively and independently, and be introduced to a range of artforms and activities. We’re currently running:
- Sound of Art or Creative by Nature (on alternating terms) in Gloucester and Cinderford
-
Creativity at Play in Cheltenham
- Drawing on Photography in Stroud
- Creative Shift Zoom courses
- Dance Translations in Gloucester (click here to hear how support to develop a safe, individualised movement vocabulary has benefitted people with chronic pain who helped develop this course)
We have organised research sessions and co-production groups including people living with chronic pain to help shape this programme. It was developed over 3 years as part of NHS Gloucestershire ICB’s Test and Learn programme.
Outcomes
“By engaging in creative activities new to me I have been able to manage my pain better because my brain has been diverted from thinking about the pain to focusing on the creative activity.
The tutors are very caring and supportive as are the other members of the group. We usually laugh together which is a great antidote to pain and sadness”
- 96% of participants showed a meaningful improvement in general wellbeing (2022-23 WEMWBS scores)
- there was an average 16% increase in ability to self-manage pain amongst last year’s participants
- over the past 2 years, 37% reported a decrease in GP visits
Who can refer?
Anyone living with chronic pain can self-refer themselves to the programme or any professional working with people living with chronic pain can submit a referral form. This may include:
- GPs
- Social Prescribers or Link Workers
- The Pain Management team
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacists
Who’s it for?
Individuals referred must be:
- Over 18 and living with chronic pain for 3 months or more
- Comfortable in a group setting
- Willing / able to use Zoom if being referred for an online course (we can support with Zoom familiarisation)
- Registered with a GP in Gloucestershire.
What participants experience
Group participants are supported over 8 – 18 sessions to:
- develop creativity and build social connection through a variety of artistic genres / activities
- set personalised goals which focus on what they can do, rather than any real or perceived limitations
- devise Move On plans, including the setup of participant-led groups where appropriate, to enable participants to continue using creativity as a tool in their ongoing pain self-management post-Artlift
Living Well with Chronic Pain projects run between:
- April and July
- September and December
- January and March
Click here to see our current courses or contact us for more information
By engaging in creative activities new to me, I have been able to manage my pain better because my brain has been diverted from thinking about the pain to focusing on the creative activity
Are you a potential participant?
If you are an individual living in Gloucestershire and would like to put yourself forward for our Create Well, Living Well or Men's Wellbeing programmes, please...
Are you a health professional?
If you are a health, VCSE or social prescribing professional, or are working with a patient / service user who could benefit from Arts on Prescription please...
