Born to Create.
WHO
Behind the scenes, we are two Occupational Therapists passionate about the ways creativity influences health. Having worked with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of sectors we know first hand the importance of embedding creativity into public health.
WHAT
We are a developing network for occupational therapists and students who are interested in creative health. We aim to provide opportunities for training & education, networking, storytelling, research & development and collaboration with the wider creative health movement.
WHY
In 2017, the ‘Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing’ report was published. Creative Health refers to creating the opportunities for the arts, culture and nature to be embedded into public health. Knowing that creativity finds itself in the roots of the occupational therapy profession, the National Centre for Creative Health and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists collaboratively held a webinar exploring creative occupational therapy, building cross-sector bridges and inspiring many. The webinar resulted in a number of occupational therapists reporting the need for community networking, story sharing and training opportunities to support work across, and between the arts, humanities and health. In recognising the need for this work to be formalised and actioned, this collective has been established.
Sorcha Dunne
Co-Founder
Sorcha Dunne is an Occupational Therapist and masters student at University College London’s MASc Creative Health program. She has 7 years experience working within the NHS and charity sectors, with a primary focus in neuro-rehabilitation. Sorcha’s passion is promoting the impact that creativity has in facilitating social connection and enhancing quality of life. She believes creativity is the bedrock of doing, being, becoming and belonging.
Hannah Sercombe
Co-Founder
Hannah Sercombe is an Occupational Therapist and Researcher working in and with the creative sector to address people's health and care needs in innovative ways. Since qualifying, she’s worked with individuals across the lifespan within the NHS, Third Sector and Academia. She was a part of the inaugural cohort of University College London’s MASc Creative Health which seeks to develop a generation of socially engaged scholars to meet the needs of changing health. Seeing personalised care, health equity and lived experience mainstreamed into public health is her passion.
