Kent County Council: A Framework for incorporating arts and culture in health and wellbeing services

Jay Edwins

Partnerships Manager

Tony Witton

Arts and Culture Service Manager

A structured framework for

incorporating arts and culture into

health and wellbeing services

‘The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society’

Sir Donald Acheson Public Health in England

Public Health is…

A Seaside Bus Ride

Thanet District Council : Male life expectancy July 2014

• Reducing health inequalities

• Mental health and well-being

• Substance and alcohol misuse

• Improving sexual health

• Reducing teenage conceptions

• Physical activity and healthy eating

• Screening and immunisations

Public Health Priorities

Arts and Public Health

…it’s not new!

More than 600 papers showing the beneficial impact of the arts on a wide range of health outcomes

I guess we already knew this…

• ‘… participation in cultural activity is associated with better health and longer lives.’

• ‘ … people engaged in the arts are more likely to report good general health when independent socio-demographic variables are taken into account’

• ‘ … engagement in the arts contributes to an increased sense of self worth and the development of confidence and determination.’

• ‘… the arts have an important role in helping to determine people’s health, whether it’s through participation, using art to convey important health messages or improving the everyday environment of individuals and communities.’

KCC Public Health budget is £54 million– Drugs and Alcohol - £12m

– Sexual health services - £12m

– Smoking - £5m

– School Health - £5m

– Mental Health, Healthy Weight, Health Checks etc. - £16m

Annual KCC budget is £1.8 billion

Interlocking Priority Outcomes across Kent

Thriving Communities

Environmental footprint

Protect VulnerableAnd Young

People

Fulfil potential of young people

Growth without gridlock

Economic Prosperity

Independenceof Residents

Health Inequalities

Community SafetyChild

Poverty

Gateway Multi-

Channel Access

Housing

Some Challenges!

• Political support

• Language

• Partnership working

• Quality

• Evidencing outcomes

• It takes time!

… you can’t win ‘em all !

Our journey

StrategicDevelopment

• Influencing colleagues across KCC

• Changing internal processes

• Capacity building the sector

Why is it working?

Where next?

Thank you.