And Breathe - Workshops
As part of our recent project, The Brunswick Centre (in partnership with Happy Valley Pride) delivered three creative workshops designed to spark conversation, build awareness, and inspire action within Calderdale’s LGBTQ+ community.
The first two workshops, aimed at over-18s, explored the impact of smoking and other addictive substances. One focused on words, the other on imagery, offering participants different ways to express their thoughts and experiences. These sessions also highlighted local support available, including Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale, and encouraged open discussion around change.
Our third workshop was designed for under-18s. Young people shared their advice on tackling smoking while being introduced to the outcomes of the earlier adult sessions. Their ideas and voices played a vital role in shaping the final stage of the project.
Together, the workshops led to the creation of a collaborative Zine, capturing the creativity and perspectives of participants. We printed 150 copies, which were shared with both participants and the wider public at our LGBTQIA+ Wellbeing Fete.
In total, 57 people took part across the sessions – from members of the Calderdale LGBTQ+ youth group to adults from other local groups and the wider community. Their engagement and input brought the project to life and helped ensure it was truly community-led.
And Breathe - LGBTQIA+ Wellbeing Fete
In May 2025 Happy Valley Pride and The Brunswick Centre took over Hope Baptist Church for a whole afternoon of creative queer explorations of wellbeing and addiction. The event included stalls, demos, drag, poetry, fancy dress, games, massage's and more, all washed down with ample cups of tea!
It's was free and an opportunity to meet others looking at creative - and fun - ways to beat addiction of any kind.
There was an info fair full of wonderful local organisations who can offer you help, from local LGBTQIA+ running groups to support services for smokers looking to quit.
About the project
We’re proud to share that we have been chosen as a creative partner for Creative Minds, a charity hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust provides community, mental health and learning disability services to the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, alongside some medium secure (forensic) services to the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber and is committed to the use of creative approaches in health services.
As a partner we are part of a growing network of community organisations who are working in partnership with the local NHS to provide creative projects and opportunities for people who use services at the Trust, their carers and local communities.
With support from Creative Minds and the Trust we’re helping local people and groups to develop and grow creatively. Find out more at www.creativemindsuk.com
We are working in partnership with Happy Valley Pride.
About Creative Minds
Creative Minds is a charity hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Creative Minds focuses on developing creative activities in partnership with community organisations that help improve the health and wellbeing of people who use Trust services.
The use of creative activities in healthcare can have a really big impact on a person’s wellbeing – whether that be increasing their self-esteem, so they feel confident to try new things, developing social skills as they meet new people or providing a sense of purpose as they are actively engaged in meaningful activity that has a structure and aim.
Where people have low expectations and poor self image, the sense of achievement found in creativity gives them a chance to start to move away from negative or self-destructive patterns and start to write a new story that promotes recovery.
We all have something inside of us that responds to creativity; this may be through sport, dance, art or writing. The Trust and Creative Minds want to make sure that we can offer a wide range of activities that appeal to our diverse communities. Find out more at www.creativemindsuk.com.
