Hello, 

welcome to the tenth issue of the Flourishing Spaces Newsletter~ a small offering to pause as we begin the new year. 

Firstly, we would like to thank you for signing up to receive this gentle thread. We aim to connect a growing community committed to re-humanising medicine and education through creativity, reflection, and care.

This isn’t about adding more noise to your inbox but some encouragement, a signpost to something meaningful, and a glimpse into what’s unfolding in our shared landscape.

All previous newsletters can be read here (scroll to the bottom of the page).

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

RCGP Creative SIG Calendar of creative events

Flourishing grows out of moments and connections, seeds planted when people come together. How can we gather more often in spaces that encourage creativity and connection? At a recent study day held by the RCGP Special Interest Group for Creative Health, we realised our group holds a wealth of knowledge about creative health events and active creative communities. We decided to create a   

Creative Health Events Calendar that can be synced to our own personal calendars, allowing us to hear about and book onto events more easily.  Anyone can submit an event for approval and anyone can access the calendar to view approved events. Why not link it to your own calendar?

Join an event and discover a place of belonging for arts and health. You will recognise some events previously advertised in these newsletters, for example the Creative Clinic online meetings.

Creative Reflection at Queen Mary’s Law School

Inspired by the Flourishing Spaces work, Eve Haynes piloted a creative reflection session for law students at the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, creating space for students to reflect on the human impact of their clinical work with clients. Using artwork postcards as prompts, students explored empathy, emotional impact, and connection, often discovering how rare it is to simply pause and talk amidst the pressures of study.

As one participant reflected, “I realised that with all the studying and appointments, it has been a long time since I sat down in a quiet space, outside of my room, and simply talked. That is something I truly appreciated.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Barts Arts Exhibition

⏱️ 4-7pm, 25th February 2026

📍 The Old Library, Garrod Building, Whitechapel

We are delighted to invite you to our fifth FMD Art Exhibition in collaboration with ACE, CBME, Flourishing Spaces, CCSU, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry EDI Strategy Group, on February 25th, between 4-7pm, in the The Old Library, Garrod Building, Whitechapel.

Inclusivity in healthcare means ensuring that everyone has equal access to safe, respectful, dignified and high-quality care, regardless of their background or identity. By recognising diversity and addressing barriers to care, inclusive healthcare helps reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for all.

We look forward to seeing you there!