From crochet to choral singing – 13 creative projects to boost Croydon’s health and wellbeing this winter

Croydon is making a significant investment in arts and creative projects to boost health and wellbeing.

Across 2025, a total of £185,000 has been awarded to community organisations to deliver a total of 40 projects as part of our Croydon Loves You grant scheme!

We’re delighted to announce the third and final round of awards to receive funding this year, featuring 13 creative health projects supporting residents across the borough:

Liberty Springboard will be delivering ‘The Community Quilt Project’ a 7-week textile project supporting marginalised women with experience of domestic abuse or the criminal justice system to design and create individualised sections of a joint quilt expressing their feelings and experiences. 

Uzo Travel Group will deliver Batik workshops supporting global majority adults experiencing mental health challenges to explore their roots through traditional printing activities. 

Tangled Feet and Go Wild With Us UK are joining forces to deliver ‘The Outdoor Project’, providing creative arts and nature-based workshops in the outdoors for young people at risk of school exclusion. 

SLiDE Forward will support adults with learning disabilities to participate in creative dance workshops, developing skills, friendships and confidence. Two ensembles will be invited to share their successes and creations in a joint sharing for family and friends at the end of the 12-week project. 

Evolve Housing will deliver a range of creative workshops – from card decorating to lego therapy – for supported accommodation residents receiving support for drug and alcohol recovery, mental health needs and experience or risk of homelessness. 

Majestic Minds will deliver a 10-week dance programme for global majority and low income post-partum (6 weeks+) mums to get out of the house, more physically active and engage with other mums. 

Studio Upstairs will offer weekly creative arts sessions facilitated by art therapists to support adults caring for family members to express themselves, connect with others and take a brief respite from their carer responsibilities.

My Child Has a Speech Delay will deliver 3x half-term creative ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for families with children with SEND to meet others, try out new activities from Indian dance to jewellery making, and improve wellbeing of children and parents alike. 

ParkBathe will offer nine creative nature-based workshops for asylum seekers living near Croydon University Hospital to improve feelings of belonging, confidence and improved wellbeing. 

Good Wolf People will deliver ‘Daytime Drama’ workshops for adults in the north of the borough who are not in employment and/or experiencing mental health challenges, supporting them to connect with others, build confidence and improve self-esteem through drama-based workshops. 

Good Food Matters will offer a series of community garden-based creative activities for disadvantaged New Addington residents to learn about plants, healthy food and wellbeing in nature. 

Pegasus Opera Company will deliver weekly choral workshops for Caribbean elders with no previous experience required, reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing for attendees. 

Blue Lotus Collective will deliver crochet workshops for single or low-income mums from global majority backgrounds, to support improved feelings of connection and belonging, impart new skills and improve wellbeing. 

These 13 successful projects join those funded in Rounds One and Two of the 2025 programme.

Find out more about how Croydon’s Creative Health team is using creativity as a tool for tackling health inequalities as part of Croydon’s Director of Public Health annual report here.