AN initiative to tackle health inequalities and boost wellbeing across the district is being launched as part of Bradford 2025.

The venture aims to use culture and creativity to address some of the area's major health-related challenges.

Priority groups identified by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership will be targeted, including people with long-term health conditions, those living with dementia, people who have severe mental health conditions, refugees and asylum seekers, gypsy and traveller communities, and the homeless.

The Creative Health project is designed to integrate music, drama and visual arts into healthcare settings.

Artists, health professionals, academics, community leaders and voluntary sector organisations will work together on the programme.

There will be social prescribing grants, and 100 creatives will be trained to work in mental health settings.

Bradford 2025 is working on the scheme in conjunction with organisations including Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, Bradford District & Craven MIND, the Voluntary and Community Sector Alliance and Bradford Council.

Keighley woman Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025, says: "Our Creative Health programme demonstrates the vital role that arts and culture play in enriching our wellbeing.

"We aim to inspire healthier, more resilient communities by showing how creativity can bring people together and support personal and collective health."

Tim Howells, head of public health at Bradford Council, says: "Bradford 2025 presents a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the district, and to contribute towards improving the health and wellbeing of residents.

"This programme provides a platform to ensure that reducing health inequalities is at the heart of City of Culture and provides a unique opportunity to use the medium of arts and culture to tackle some of our most pervasive health inequalities. We're excited to be working with the partnership to help support the health of residents."

Collette Brauns, of Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, says creativity has been demonstrated to be beneficial to people's health.

She said: "Evidence shows arts and culture can have a positive impact on wellbeing, including reducing stress levels and helping us feel good about ourselves. Getting creative could involve anything from gardening or dancing to writing, singing or being out in nature, all of which prevent ill health and help us live longer.

"Creative health approaches can also support people to manage long-term conditions like respiratory illnesses and dementia and help us recover from operations."