The Museums on Prescription project was carried out by University College London and Canterbury Christ Church University, in partnership with seven museums, three health and social care trusts, and four third-sector organisations in central London and Kent.

The project established novel programmes of museum-based, creative activities for lonely, older adults aged 65-94 years at risk of social isolation. Its objectives were to assess improvements in mental and psychological wellbeing and social inclusion, as a result of participation on the programme, using robust methods to explore reasons for change and regional differences.

Seven museums across central London and Kent facilitated a dozen 10-week programmes of weekly, two-hour museum sessions – free for groups of around 10 participants plus carers or befrienders. The museums were: British Museum; Central St Martins Museum and Study Collection; The Postal Museum; UCL Museums; The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury; Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery; and Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery.

Sessions were led by museum staff and included curator talks, behind-the-scenes tours, museum object handling and discussion, and creative and co-productive activities inspired by the collections involving writing, drawing, print-making, weaving, and designing exhibitions, booklets and guides.

Quantitative analysis of the measures found significant improvements in psychological wellbeing, which were sustained after the programme had ended. Qualitative analysis revealed a sense of belonging, improved quality of life, renewed interest in learning, increased social activity, and continued visits to museums.

Other finalists in the category included Music for Change –a multi-stranded arts-based programme tackling low levels of school readiness, poor speech, language and communication development, and low levels of family engagement among children up to the age of five and their families, in one of the most deprived parts of central London. Activities combine a variety of musical activities with movement and story-telling, and are led by experienced, specially trained early years’ music practitioners, with NHS support in some instances.

The third finalist was Choir in Every Care Home – a UK-wide initiative led by Live Music Now in partnership with Sound Sense and the Sidney De Haan Research Centre. It supports innovative, sustainable and effective music interventions for older people.​

The RSPH’s Health and Wellbeing Awards were presented last week at a ceremony in London. Other winners included:

• Community Health Development Award: Actes Trust for its programme Trending;
• Healthier Lifestyles Award: Evolve: A Social Impact Company for its programme Project HE:RO;
• Public Mental Health and Wellbeing Award: Addaction UK for its programme Mind and Body;
• Technology and Health Innovation Award: Solutions 4 Health for its programme FallsFree4Life: QTUG Technology; and
• Workplace Health and Wellbeing Award: Pioneering Care Partnership for its programme Better Health at Work Award County Durham.

Addaction UK was also presented with the prestigious Public Health Minister’s Awards 2017, a scheme launched in 2014 in partnership with the Department of Health to recognise public health excellence and innovation.

Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of RSPH, said: “The RSPH Awards is always a major highlight of the public health calendar, and this year the event is bigger and better than ever. It’s a great morale booster for the public health community to be able to come together in this way, celebrate best practice and share innovation.”