Creative Communities is a unique programme that offers weekly arts groups and events for adults affected by drugs and/or alcohol. We are based at Bristol Drugs Project, a charity that has provided harm reduction and treatment services for individuals seeking support with their relationship with drugs and alcohol since 1985. Bristol Drugs Project is part of Horizons – Bristol’s Drug & Alcohol Partnership.
What we do
For over a decade, our experienced arts practitioners have worked collaboratively with drug workers and volunteers to create a space where people can develop new skills, build supportive networks and communities, and get access to the wider arts scene. As well as being confidence boosting and fun, our regular performances are also a direct and impactful way of breaking through the stigma that surrounds people with lived or living experience of drug use.
Why we do it
The arts aren’t just a way to unlock creativity, they offer a unique opportunity for people who’ve experienced trauma to process feelings and emotions without needing to find the right words. Research shows that performing in a group can boost confidence and self-esteem, while also reducing anxiety and depression. It helps develop a sense of connection and belonging—both of which are crucial in overcoming isolation and self esteem when addressing drug and alcohol use.
How we started
After working as a group worker at Bristol Drugs Project for six years, Creative Communities founder Sophie Wilsdon began to feel that she was running out of words to support people to process their experiences around drug use and recovery. Encouraging individuals to explore new insights into their use, often in the same chairs, in the same rooms, with the same group workers and group members, had begun to feel more like an exercise in repetition than a catalyst for real change.
As a musician, Sophie had joined a small community choir led by Isolde Lachlan (Murmuration Choir) and was amazed by how quickly a group of strangers could learn a song, feeling comfortable and singing beautiful three part harmonies within a few minutes. She knew this way of leading singing could work with the people she was working with at BDP so proposed the idea to her manager. The choir leader was up for the challenge, and BDP was open to a new idea — so we were off.
Our Values
What Defines Us, Inspires Us, and Moves Us Forward.
Inclusivity & Connection
We create a welcoming, non-judgmental space where everyone is valued
Creativity & Community
We use creativity as a tool for self-expression, identity, and connection
Empowerment & Growth
We believe in the transformative power of creativity to inspire personal development
Meet the Team
Our team is from diverse backgrounds – from arts professionals to drug and alcohol support workers, all connected by a shared belief in the transformative power of the arts.
Sophie Wilsdon
Creative Communities Manager/Rising Voices Leader
Sophie founded Rising Voices in 2014 and now leads Creative Communities and plays clarinet in Bristol Recovery Orchestra. She has worked in drugs and alcohol in Brighton and Bristol for over 20 years, and has brought together her musicianship and social work skills and experience to build and sustain Creative Communities. She is proud of the inclusive and supportive community that has built up around it, and the partnerships she’s developed with Bristol Old Vic, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bristol Beacon, Changing Tunes and most recently, Trinity Centre.
Raph Clarkson
Bristol Recovery Orchestra Musical Director
Raph has worn many musical hats, bringing extensive musical experience from playing trombone in bands and jazz and groove-based ensembles, to composing music and leading workshops with orchestras across the country. His community work has spanned diverse groups, from school children to elderly community members and much more. Raph took over as musical director from BRO’s founder Jon James in October 2024.
Liz Felton
Oi Polloi Workshop Leader
Liz has led Oi Polloi for over four years, and are also a visiting writer and director at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As the Artistic Director of The Story Cellar, they work with hundreds of school and community groups across Bristol and the Southwest.A specialist in Devised Theatre, Lizbrings thisexpertise to their work with Oi Polloi, alongside small, scripted pieces. Each term is thoughtfully planned to offer variety and creativity, incorporating physical ensemble work, puppetry, mask, writing, and improvisation.
Mel Thompson
Changing Tunes and Trinity Beginners Groups facilitator
Mel is a trained Music Therapist and co-facilitates two beginners music groups – the Changing Tunes Beginners group, and Trinity Move On Music. Mel is also a flutist and singer and previously volunteered in Rising Voices and Bristol Recovery Orchestra for nearly 10 years.
Olivia Batten
Creative Communities Communications and Digital Engagement Assistant
Olivia joined our team in July 2024 and does so much more than Communications! She creates social media content, takes photos and videos, collates feedback, manages our mailing lists and also sings in Rising Voices.
Jacob Green
Oi Polloi Facilitation Assistant
Jacob has been a Facilitation Assistant in Oi Polloi since 2021, bringing his invaluable mix of drugs work and theatre experience to the group. For the rest of his week, Jacob has been a drug and alcohol worker at Horizons for 5 years, supporting and working with people who use drugs. Before working in the drugs field, he completed a BA Honours in Drama and has more than 10 years of experience performing and creating theatre.
Jordan Woollgar
Changing Tunes Musician in Residence
Jordan works at Changing Tunes, delivering music sessions for people affected by substance abuse and the justice system.
He co-facilitates a beginner’s music group with Bristol Drugs Project, runs a Post-Release music group, and leads workshops at Seetec. He plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and sings.
Eleri Hewitt
Co-facilitator for the Trinity Music Group
Eleri works at Trinity Centre as a tutor, helping young people and adults to develop audio production skills, learn instruments and write and perform songs
They freelance full time as a live sound engineer in venues across Bristol, such as Bristol beacon, trinity centre and the Canteen
They are also a singer/songwriter and produce their own music.
Sukina Noor
Therapeutic Writing Facilitator
Sukina Noor is a poet, spoken-word artist, playwright, workshop facilitator, educator, artistic curator, writer and public speaker who has toured extensively across UK, Europe, America and Africa. She is the author of the debut poetry collection of poetry, Love and Longing: Yearning for the Face of God, and has recently released her debut spoken word album, Tribe.
MoYah
Hip Hop Garden Facilitator
MoYah is an Afro-fusion rapper, artistic activist, educator and award winning interfaith creative producer, born in war-torn Mozambique during a 16 year war and forced to flee his homeland as a political refugee.
Performing across almost 20 countries around the world, MoYah’s music has been featured on BBC One, as well as international TV Channels in Portugal, Senegal and Mozambique. It speaks not only of his personal journey but also addresses a wide range of social justice issues, fosters community cohesion, empathy and celebrates perseverance in marginalised and underrepresented communities.
What our members say:
Creative Communities are the backbone of my recovery. I’m in the choir and orchestra, which meet weekly to rehearse. I love music, and singing with others gives me a real sense of belonging. I can get support from people who understand what living with addiction or alcoholism can be like.
Being part of these groups gives me pride, and it’s brilliant to show my family and the public how well we can perform.
Ange
Service User
Singing, creating and performing poetry with Creative Communities has given me the opportunity to connect with others in recovery and create some joy.
Richie
I would say being part of Creative Communities gives us connection, purpose, pause for thought, and empathy.
Cynthia
Partners & Funders
We are so grateful to our partners, funders, and supporters who have helped make Creative Communities possible. Their belief in our work, shared values, and continued investment in our programmes enable us to reach more people, create meaningful change, and explore new creative possibilities.
Whether through funding or collaboration, these organisations play a vital role in everything we do. We’re proud to work alongside them to connect more communities in Bristol to the arts.
What our partners and funders say
Creative Communities beautifully expresses Bristol Drugs’ Projects mission in a different way- building a sense of belonging for people who use or have used drugs and alcohol, supporting health and wellbeing and finding joy through connection.
Lydia Plant (CEO of Bristol Drugs Project)
This partnership brings together two brilliant organisations with a shared belief in the power of creativity to support people to live more active, connected, and fulfilling lives. By aligning our values and combining our strengths, we’re creating more inclusive spaces where everyone can express themselves, build confidence, and feel part of something positive.
Adam Gallacher – Deputy CEO at Trinity Community Arts
Historically Changing Tunes has only partnered with HMPPS on work out in the community. However, when the opportunity to work with Creative Communities came up it made perfect sense. The work has been a joy to develop and has settled into a productive way of working very quickly. There is unfortunately so much overlap between the Criminal Justice System and the drugs and alcohol world. Participants have appreciated the dual lines of support and whilst the work is still in it’s early days we have high hopes for some wonderful outcomes.
David Jones, Changing Tunes CEO
We have loved being part of Creative Communities – celebrating the work across the programmes and having the support of experts from BDP to underpin our work with adults in recovery at Bristol Old Vic.
Lucy Hunt, Engagement Director, Bristol Old Vic
We have learnt a huge amount from our 5 years of working together with BDP Creative Communities and hold it up as a hugely successful partnership. For us, having an organisation so deeply rooted in its community is critical in order to support the meaningful inception and continued evolution of the project, in a way that we alone could simply not do. Sophie and all the volunteers play a critical role, allowing the music leader and the BSO supporting musicians to do what we do best – facilitating extraordinary music making.
Lucy Warren, Head of Participate for Community Health and Wellbeing, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Publications
Over the years, Creative Communities has been featured in numerous press articles and research studies. Here are just a few of the publications where our work has appeared.
