Baring Foundation Awards £100,000 to Creative Minds Programme

Funding to support arts-based mental health initiatives in Bradford District and Craven

The Baring Foundation has awarded £100,000 to Creative Minds, a new service developed by Bradford District and Craven Mind. The funding aims to extend access to arts and cultural activities for people living with long-term mental illness in the Bradford district and Craven area.

Background and development

Creative Minds builds on a year-long partnership between Bradford District and Craven Mind and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. During 2025, this collaboration supported approximately 360 individuals living with severe mental illness (SMI) to participate in arts and cultural events across the district. The initiative sought to increase confidence and engagement with creative opportunities among participants.

The grant from The Baring Foundation is intended to help sustain and expand the work initiated during Bradford 2025. The funding will enable Creative Minds to continue providing creative activities that promote mental health and wellbeing for people living with SMI.

Programme aims and activities

• Offer opportunities for people with severe mental illness to explore various art forms
• Support participants in developing creativity and social connections
• Work with Creative Arts Practitioners to deliver inclusive and welcoming community-based activities
• Embed creativity as a lasting component of mental health support in the Bradford district and Craven

The programme focuses on using creativity to improve mental health outcomes by helping individuals build confidence, reduce isolation, and foster meaningful connections.

Organisational comments

Myriam Barker, Head of Income Generation at Bradford District and Craven Mind, stated that the funding from The Baring Foundation is enabling the organisation to use creativity as a tool to support recovery, resilience, and hope for people living with severe mental illness in the area.

With this support, Creative Minds aims to ensure the continuation and growth of arts-based mental health initiatives beyond the Bradford 2025 celebrations.