Creativity Fosters Connection

Team Doncaster Partnership Summit event with diverse professionals gathered around a table in a well-lit conference room in Doncaster.

What if…creativity is the most important ingredient for both residents’ wellbeing and your own workplace?

That was the key question explored in an interactive workshop delivered by Lucy Robertshaw, Director (Creative Health), at the Team Doncaster Partnership Summit 2025. Lucy used creative techniques to foster connections among professionals working in Doncaster. The session invited participants to reflect on the power of creativity in the workplace – not just as a tool for expression, but as a means of developing meaningful relationships and emotional wellbeing.

Mapping Memories and Meaning
One of the most engaging activities involved a large tablecloth map of Doncaster. Participants were encouraged to mark places that held personal significance – where they live, work, visit, or even where their parents went on their first date! This hands-on exercise sparked conversations about how important it is to find moments of genuine connection at work and revealed a shared affection for the city.

Objects That Speak
In another activity, participants selected random objects to help express workplace challenges or successes. Holding something tangible helped many open up more easily, offering a fresh perspective and encouraging deeper reflection. The feedback was clear: creativity makes difficult conversations easier and more insightful.

A group of adults participating in a darts workshop at the Team Doncaster Partnership Summit 2025. They are seated around a round table covered with a white tablecloth, on which various vintage tools and random objects are scattered. Another table, partially visible in the foreground, is covered with a map tablecloth.

A Personal Touch
Each attendee left with a brightly coloured envelope containing a postcard featuring a photo from a darts session on one side, and a handwritten quote from a professional who had engaged with darts’ work on the other. These takeaways served as a reminder of the impact creativity can have on personal practice and wellbeing.

Key Takeaways
Participants agreed that creativity is essential in the workplace because it:

• Encourages genuine connection and empathy
• Helps people communicate beyond words – through body language and shared experience
• Gives everyone a chance to contribute, regardless of role or background
• Brings joy and laughter, which are essential for wellbeing and a great way to bond

This workshop was an important reminder that creativity isn’t just for artists – it’s for everyone – and it has the power to transform the way we work, relate and care.

You can find out more about our work to improve life, learning and health in Doncaster on the darts website: www.wearedarts.org.uk.