CURRENTLY ACCEPTING MFT STAFF REFERRALS FOR JANUARY 2026

What is Create+? 

Create+ is a multi-award winning Arts Referral Service for MFT staff that uses creative activity as a tool to improve self-care, wellbeing and resilience at work. The programme is for MFT staff who are returning to work after sick leave, and staff who are in work but who need some ‘time out’ due to high levels of stress/anxiety.

Awards and recognition include:

GOLD WINNER SPECIAL CATEGORY ‘CLINICIANS CHOICE AWARD’, Building Better Healthcare, 2024

GOLD WINNER ‘BEST COLLABORATIVE ARTS PROJECT’, Building Better Healthcare, 2024

WINNER ‘BEST HEALTH + WELLBEING INITIATIVE IN GREATER MANCHESTER’ Manchester Culture Awards, 2023

The programme established in 2022 has now developed an evidence base to demonstrate the positive outcomes of accessing the 6 week course, including:

• Reduced stress and anxiety surrounding work and/or a return to work after sick leave
• Improved ONS4 measures of wellbeing.
• Improvements across Participants’ self-identified mental health and wellbeing concerns
• A pilot study which showed how 45% of participants felt that the Create+ programme had made them want to stay in their job.

Click here to read the full Create+ pilot evaluation report

Create+ is a friendly and informal six week workshop programme, delivered from the Lime Arts + Wellbeing Centre located on the Oxford Road Campus. Staff attend a 2.5hr workshop each week in a small group of no more than 6 people. Workshops are delivered by professional artists and accessible to everyone – staff do not need any previous arts experience.

All Create+ participants must have their line managers approval to attend the course.

Managers referring staff who are currently in work need to agree and commit to staff attending Create+ during their working hours.

Who is Create+ for? 

Create+ is for staff who are categorised into one of three groups:

• Those who have been on sick leave due to stress or anxiety related illness.
• Those who have been on sick leave with other illness e.g. broken leg, cancer treatment etc, but who are experiencing high levels of stress/anxiety about returning to work.
• Those currently in work but who are experiencing high levels or stress/ anxiety + approaching ‘burnout’

Create+ Aims:

• To provide a non-medical referral option for staff to improve wellbeing + resilience at work.
• To support staff with stress/anxiety to better self-manage their symptoms.
• To help improve quality of life at work, and outside of the hospital.
• To alleviate and improve symptoms of stress, isolation, anxiety, depression.

Benefits to staff: 

• The Lime Studio will act as a ‘halfway house’ for staff who may be anxious about returning to work, introducing them back to site at a neutral/nonclinical space.
• Workshops will have no more than 6 participants, creating a sense of community in the group and connecting staff who are returning to work at a similar time.
• Workshops will provide opportunities for staff to meet others with ‘shared experience’ and promote self-care through creative activity and peer support.
• Workshops are fun and provide opportunities to express, explore and learn new skills.
• Lime will develop knowledge and links within community settings to enable signposting for staff who wish to continue creative practice on completion of the six-week referral programme.

How to sign up :

MFT Managers can refer staff simply by emailing us at [email protected]. Please ensure that you tell us:

Employee Name:
Job Title:
Department:
Work Site:
Contact Email:
Personal Contact Number:
Work Status: In Work/Recently Returned/Long Term Sick
Any Additional Support Needs:

 The Lime Arts team will then contact the manager and referred member of staff to discuss the programme further, and/or arrange a visit to the Lime Arts Studio, and allocate a Create+ workshop group.

PLEASE NOTE: Managers referring staff currently in work need to agree and commit to staff attending Create+ during their working hours.