Breathe Arts Health Research (Breathe) is a not-for-profit, multi-award-winning social enterprise that was spun out of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity (GSTC) in 2012 by Yvonne Farquharson. Their mission is to turn fresh ideas and creativity into practical change within our healthcare system.
What makes them unique is the way they collaborate equally across the three sectors of arts, health and science, working with the very best people in each field. Their focus is on the individual; treating ‘the whole person’ is more effective and there is now proven value in taking a creative and holistic approach to healthcare and the places where it happens. Breathe’s work is underpinned by robust scientific research and evaluation, to demonstrate both the medical and economic value of our programmes and projects.
Breathe specialises in developing arts programmes that meet specific health needs. As just one example, Breathe has developed a pioneering magic-based rehabilitation programme for children with hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis). This became one of the first creative programmes in the UK to secure mainstream NHS funding for delivery as a clinical service and has strong NHS backing, including receiving funding from a number of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) nationwide, critical acclaim from leading figures within healthcare including Jeremy Hunt and coverage in national press and radio.
Breathe works as a strategic partner to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and has been contracted, since the company’s inception, to design and deliver a diverse performing arts and health programme across Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The programme is one of the largest performing arts and health programmes in Europe and offers a range of creative interventions and events in public and clinical settings across 3 hospitals and a range of community health sites for patients, staff, visitors. The programme works in collaboration with some of the leading health, cultural and academic organisations locally, nationally and internationally and includes involvement in annual cultural arts and health events and festivals.
The work of Breathe has been recognised with a number of major national awards, including being selected as one of 2014’s New Radicals by NESTA, the 2015 PwC UK Social Enterprise Innovation Award and a national NHS England Innovation Challenge Award 2016
