Option 1

Core Arts are open to new referrals from all London Boroughs and have membership spaces available for persons using personal budgets

To become a member of Core Arts you must have an interest in developing your creative potential, and in addition:

  • Current contact with NHS Mental Health Services
  • Access to a personal budget, direct payment or secured other funding to cover the membership costs.
  • Referral from a care coordinator, social worker or consultant from an NHS psychiatric or mental health team.
Funded membership

Option 2

For City and Hackney ELFT patients – The Recovery Alliance

To become a member of Core Arts your care coordinator, Nurse or OT will need to refer you directly through our partnership to be able to access 3-6 months membership and be able to access the full membership package:

  • Core Arts is working in partnership with ELFT NHS to support persons with severe and enduring needs as part of their current care plan or discharge from hospital.
  • City and Hackney Clinical commissioning Group (CCG) has funded this support through recognition of arts in health to support recovery and alliance between NHS mental health services and Core Arts.
The Recovery Alliance – ‘Arts in Health’

Option 3

For City and Hackney ELFT patients – Personal Health Budget (PHB)

Core Arts is a notional PHB provider for City and Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham.  If you wish to refer your client for Core Arts membership for notional referral please use the City and Hackney Recovery Alliance referral form. The form defines the criteria for notional referral, please use if eligible. This referral form is for non-notional course applications for persons wishing to use a PHB to access Core Arts to achieve a recovery goal, because they meet the criteria for PHB and this is the preferred way to access our service, supported by you, their clinician.

Personal Health Budget (PHB)

Option 4

Hackney Residents without clinical/care coordinator referral

The City and Hackney Wellbeing Network is a partnership of Hackney based specialist mental health providers, supporting residents mental health management and work towards enhanced wellbeing. The Network offers creative arts groups, physical health sessions, mindfulness, complimentary therapies, social groups and much more! https://chwellbeingnetwork.london/courses/

  • Clients may be allocated a Mental Health Coach to access their support needs and goals and offer a choice of groups and services in line the discussion.

  • Any resident of Hackney experiencing mental health issues is welcome to self-refer, or they can be supported to refer. The referral form can be found here:https://chwellbeingnetwork.london/ (make a referral).

  • If you would like to join the Wellbeing Network specifically to attend Core Arts, please ensure you specify this in the referral and contact Almha at amccartan@corearts.co.uk or 02085333500 to inform her of your referral.

  • If you are unsure what referral pathway is most suitable, please don’t hesitate to contact the membership team on 02085333500 to discuss your options!

Wellbeing Network

We particularly strive to meet the needs of those who may have limited access to other means of support due to layers of discrimination faced in terms of class, financial resources and cultural differences.

However, we do not have the resources to accept referrals for people with a serious history of unprovoked violence, or persons with specific learning difficulties.
When you enroll with us, we will go through the details of your membership and you will have a full induction to Core Arts. We will go through your previous achievements, existing skills, knowledge base and creative aspirations and support you to choose a program of courses that suit you, tailored to you and at your learning level.