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The Quarter 4 report (January - March 2025) is now available to read and download on our website.

The Out of the Blue programme is the Creative Arts, Mental Health and Wellbeing service funded by Kirklees Council and the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

The programme of creative activities is free for Kirklees residents who are aged 18 or over and who want to protect their mental health and wellbeing, or are experiencing issues with their mental health. A diagnosis is not needed to sign up.

You can see all the sessions on offer on the Activities page of the website.

For Creativity and Wellbeing Week we are excited to share our film with National Centre for Creative Health all about how important commissioned creative health services like hoot's are. 

hoot creative arts is commissioned by Kirklees Council and the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to provide a free programme of creative activities to Kirklees residents as a way for people to look after their mental health and wellbeing. 

In this film we see our Thursday Music Group in action whilst we hear from hoot musician, Rob who delivers music and singing activities, and hoot's Chief Executive Gavin on the impact of services like hoot's. We also hear from the commissioners of the service; Jan from Kirklees Council and Paul from the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board on their commitment to investing in creative arts. 

Being creative makes you feel good, and it's proven to have benefits to people's physical and mental health.   

In 2017, the Creative Health Report published its findings after two years of comprehensive research with their key findings being: 

• "Creative health is fundamental to a healthy and prosperous society, and its benefits should be available and accessible to all. 

• Creative health should form an integral part of a 21st -century health and social care system – one that is holistic, person-centred, and which focuses on reducing inequalities and supporting people to live well for longer. 

• Creating the conditions for creative health to flourish requires a joined-up, whole system approach incorporating health systems, local authorities, schools, and the cultural and VCSE sectors."  
  - Creative Health report Executive Summary 

The World Health Organisation's 2019 Scoping Review of arts and health documents how arts engagement can alleviate anxiety, depression, and even the distress associated with chronic conditions. 

"Including the arts in health care delivery has been shown to support positive clinical outcomes for patients while also supporting other stakeholders, including health care providers, the patient's loved ones and the wider community."  
- World Health Organisation, https://www.who.int/initiatives/arts-and-health  

These reports and many others confirm what we at hoot know - being creative makes us feel good.  

From singing to painting, writing poetry to dancing, actively participating in creative activities offers a wealth of benefits and discovering our creativity holds incredible potential for improving our physical, mental, and social wellbeing.  

Creative Health is an essential element of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and by integrating the arts into healthcare systems we can improve lives, build stronger communities, support the health and social care workforce and cultivate a healthier society.  

How to support hoot creative arts: 

You can support hoot by following us on social media and sharing our posts on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn. 

If you are interested in donating to hoot or working in partnership on a project, please visit www.hootcreativearts.co.uk or email: info@hootcreativearts.co.uk 

For further reading visit: 

• Creative Health Report: https://ncch.org.uk/appg-ahw-inquiry-report  

• Creative Health Review (update of the 2017 Report): https://ncch.org.uk/creative-health-review 

• WHO Scoping Review: Arts and Health: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289054553  

• hoot creative arts Out of the Blue service reports: https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/projects/out-of-the-blue  

• To engage your own MP in learning about and advocating for Creative Health as part of an integrated health and social care service you can find guidance here: https://ncch.org.uk/news/briefing-on-creative-health-for-mps 

Volunteering with hoot is a great way to build skills which can be useful in all sorts of different aspects of life. 

Back in 2014, Music Technology student Jazz spent a year working with hoot as part of her studies. Much of Jazz’ time was spent supporting our creative activities but she also spent a lot of time working with participants to write and record their own music and songs culminating in a compilation album: Of Sound Mind - listen for free on Bandcamp. The artwork was also designed by a hoot volunteer and 

Looking back on her time with us, Jazz reflected on the skills and experiences she found valuable and has taken forward into her career: 

• Building strong relationships with people from all backgrounds 

• Focusing on looking after your mental health  

• Working independently but also as a part of a team 

• Learning that kindness is probably the most important quality in leadership 

• Being brave enough to think outside the box and be creative 

A big thank you to Jazz for sharing her experience of her time at hoot.  

If you are interested in volunteering in our creative activities to build your skills and experience please complete the form on our website to hear about opportunities as they become available: https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/support-hoot 

hoot has decided that it is time to leave the social media platform, X.

We will no longer be posting or moderating our account @HootMusic. Here is how you can keep in touch with us and stay up to date with the latest hoot news

• Join our mailing list https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/form/mai
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hootcreativearts/
• Instagram https://instagram.com/hootcreativearts
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoot-creative-arts/
• Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/hootcreativearts.bsky.social

We're excited to announce that Creation Station has a new session running on Monday afternoons starting on Monday 7th April.

Our Monday morning Creation Station group has been so popular that we've decided to run a second group on a Monday afternoon.

Creation Station is a creative group at hoot creative arts specially designed for adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.

We offer free and enjoyable activities like Art, Music, and Movement. It's a place to make friends, boost your confidence, and have a great time. 

What We Offer: 

• Exciting art, music, and movement activities, all ideas for creative activities welcome.  

• A place to meet new friends and become part of a supportive community. 

• A place to express yourself through creative activities. 

• Creative activities that make you feel good and boost your mental health. 

Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Dates: 07 April 2025 , 28 April 2025 , 12 May 2025 , 19 May 2025 , 02 June 2025 , 09 June 2025 , 16 June 2025 , 23 June 2025 , 30 June 2025 , 07 July 2025 , 14 July 2025 , 21 July 2025 , 28 July 2025 and more dates to come soon.

Where: hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3DX

How to join: Sign up online here https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/activities/creation-station-afternoons

Any questions? Email info@hootcreativearts.co.uk or call us on 01484 516224
 

Session 1: Wednesday 5 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 2: Wednesday 12 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 3: Wednesday 19 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 4: Wednesday 26 March, 7 – 8pm

Online
Free event
Advance booking required

Open to participants aged 18+ only. Attendance limited, Kirklees residents prioritised.

hcmf// are teaming up with hoot creative arts to offer a fun opportunity to make music online in a group setting. We invite you to sign up to 4 weekly sessions, held online and led by music practitioner Rob Crisp. You don’t need experience to take part, just an open mind and a way to connect to the internet.  

Over 4 weekly evening sessions, the group will discuss ways of making sound online, how to share audio with others and how to create sound pieces as an online ensemble. This is a fantastic way to explore the possibilities of digital group improvisation within a friendly and social group setting.

To sign up, please visit: https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/ImprovClub

For more information, contact the hcmf// office at info@hcmf.co.uk

We hope you've had a good break. 

Click here to see what's happening at hoot and all our creative activities running this term.

The official release of the Winter 2024 - Making Changes Your Voice in Kirklees Magazine is here and we hope everybody enjoys reading this edition!

Your Voice in Kirklees (YVIK) releases quarterly magazines created by volunteers and staff from Kirklees branches of Waythrough, S2R, WomenCentre, Clear, hoot creative arts, Cloverleaf Advocacy and Carers Count.

New contributors are always welcome, we meet Wednesday's via Zoom (and occasionally in person) at 12.30pm, please email Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk if you'd like to join for the first meeting of the Spring edition which starts on Wednesday 8th January 2025!

Download/Read our Magazine

• Standard Version of YVIK Winter Magazine (25MB~) - drive.google.com/file/d/1oJ6AH3jEsPgBu_MWeYrEwdUG2vFpBqxR/view
• Directly on Canva by clicking the link or scanning the QR code attached below - https://www.canva.com/design/DAGR4cOEdkw/MElOakb9oUVSineWQQQG3Q/view

About Your Voice in Kirklees

Your Voice in Kirklees (YVIK) releases quarterly magazines created by volunteers and staff from Kirklees branches of Richmond Fellowship, S2R, WomenCentre, Clear, hoot creative arts, Cloverleaf Advocacy and Carers Count.

New contributors are always welcome, we meet Wednesday's via Zoom (and occasionally in person) at 12.30pm, please email Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk if you'd like to join for the first meeting of the Spring edition which starts on Wednesday 8th January 2025!

Previous newsletters are available on the Waythrough Kirklees Employment Service website's official newsletter webpage

Follow your Your Voice in Kirklees on social media Facebook - X - Instagram

Join our main programmes of free creative activities for adults. Give one of our workshops a go and discover how being creative makes us feel good and is great for our mental health and wellbeing.

This is what the week looks like at hoot, click here to download 

Programme Name: Out of the Blue 

• Who can attend these workshops? Adults aged 18 or over who live in Kirklees
• How much do they cost? It’s free to attend all workshops
• What if I can't attend the first session? That's totally fine! You can sign up and join us at any time.
   

Creative workshops in Dewsbury

Music making workshops

Tuesdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm at Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Visual Arts workshops

Tuesdays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm at Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions
 

Creative workshops in Huddersfield

Creative Writing workshops

Tuesdays, 2pm - 4pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Visual Arts workshops

Wednesdays, 2pm - 4pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Harmony singing workshops

Thursdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Music making workshops

Thursdays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Harmony singing online workshops

Thursdays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm on Zoom video call
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Programme Name: Creative Pathways 

• Who can attend these workshops? Adults aged 18 or over with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• How much do they cost? It’s free to attend all workshops
• What if I can't attend the first session? That's totally fine! You can sign up and join us at any time.
   

Creative workshops in Huddersfield

Mixed artform workshops

Mondays,  10:30am - 12pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

At hoot creative arts we are increasingly aware that experiencing racism, discrimination, and bias of all levels throughout a lifetime has a long-term impact on mental health.

hoot is here for all residents of Kirklees regardless (but with awareness and competence) of heritage, culture or creed. hoot celebrates human diversity and how this has influenced and contributed to Britain’s development through music, art, writing, song, traditions, festivals and a whole host of cultural elements. The creative health sector and charities across the UK will be a vital part of the healing process and the drive to challenge discrimination, misinformation, and bias directly through our engagement, design and delivery of projects. 

I grew up in the 1970’s when my mother (White British) had National Front leaflets thrust into her hand as she walked along streets in Manchester with my stepfather (PHD student, Indian national and Muslim). 

50 years later, and during my time working here in Kirklees I have heard once again about the prejudice that is faced throughout a lifetime by British citizens of colour stretching one, two, three and more generations back and now by new residents who seek a safe and secure future for their families. 

When politicians and the media actively use and do not adequately challenge racist tropes and divisive rhetoric, such as "Hostile Environment," "Stop The Boats," "Take Back Control," and "Enemies of the People," (with reference to lawyers and courts) they fuel a climate of hatred and intolerance, culminating in the horrors witnessed on our streets these past 10 days.

As Jo Cox famously said in her maiden speech in Parliament: “ …we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us” and it has been heartening to see so many UK citizens standing publicly in opposition to violence, racism and Islamophobia and showing solidarity with those being targeted. 

Our colleagues at Third Sector Leaders Kirklees have collated a list of available resources, advice and support on their website and Arts Council England have released a statement of solidarity and support.

‘Being Creative’ not only ‘Makes You Feel Good’ it builds social health, strengthens connection between individuals and within communities that will always triumph over hatred and division. 

Gavin Clayton
CEO
hoot creative arts