Six Lewisham community projects awarded creative health microgrants
Six community organisations in Lewisham have been awarded Creative Health in Lewisham Neighbourhood Microgrants to deliver projects that use arts, creativity, culture and nature to improve health and wellbeing.
The six grants of £2,000 have been jointly funded by Lewisham Council and NHS South East London as part of a wider commitment to neighbourhood health and reducing health inequalities through community-led approaches. The projects will bring together local residents, creative organisations and health partners to strengthen social connections, support healthier lifestyles and improve wellbeing across the borough.
The programme places a particular focus on cardiovascular disease prevention and the lifestyle factors that support good health, including physical activity, healthy eating, social connection and wellbeing. Funded organisations will build links with Lewisham’s Lifestyle Medicine Service and neighbourhood health teams, helping residents access wider support and encouraging healthier lives through creative and community-led activities.
Creative health recognises the role that creative activities, cultural experiences and community participation can play in supporting people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The microgrants programme will help organisations test new ideas, reach communities in innovative ways and strengthen links between community organisations and local health services.
Meet the funded projects
Modality Lewisham and Bethlem Gallery
Modality Lewisham and Bethlem Gallery will work together to deliver artist-led workshops for adults with learning disabilities. Through creative activities focused on food, wellbeing and healthy living, participants will have opportunities to build confidence, develop social connections and explore health topics in accessible and engaging ways.
Mads Do & Mend CIC
Mads Do & Mend CIC will expand its community mending programme in east Lewisham. Residents will come together through sewing, textile repair and creative making, helping people learn new skills, reduce loneliness and build stronger community connections. The project will also strengthen links with social prescribing and local health partners.
Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network
Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network will establish a gardening programme for refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant men. By combining nature-based activities, peer support and practical gardening skills, the project aims to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and help people connect with local support networks.
Downham Men’s Group
Downham Men’s Group will create a community mural celebrating the history and identity of Downham in partnership with local artist collective Marblehead Studios. Working alongside artists, participants will share stories and experiences that help shape the artwork while building confidence, improving wellbeing and strengthening community connections. The mural will create a lasting community asset that celebrates local heritage and community pride.
Arts Network
Arts Network will deliver a programme of creative health workshops in north Lewisham for people experiencing mental health challenges and long-term health conditions. Combining visual arts, mindfulness and peer support, the sessions will help participants build confidence, connect with others and access wider health and wellbeing support.
DobroDIY CIC
DobroDIY CIC’s ME+WE: Heart Works project will support sanctuary-seeking and migrant communities through creative workshops focused on identity, belonging, health and wellbeing. The programme will include multilingual resources and culminate in a community celebration, creating opportunities for self-expression and meaningful connection.
Strengthening neighbourhood health through creativity
The projects will run across Lewisham over the coming months, demonstrating how creativity can support healthier communities by bringing people together, tackling isolation and creating opportunities for people to take part in activities that support their wellbeing.
Through partnerships between community organisations, Lewisham’s Lifestyle Medicine Service and neighbourhood health teams, the programme aims to build stronger local networks and explore new ways of helping residents prevent ill health, improve wellbeing and live healthier lives.
The Creative Health in Lewisham Neighbourhood Microgrants are funded through a partnership between Lewisham Council, NHS South East London, Lewisham Cultural Partnership and the ICB’s Creative Health Programme, supporting innovative local projects that place communities at the heart of improving health and wellbeing.