28 CONTEXT 183 : MARCH 2025 emotional expression and connection. The results have been transformative—not just for the individuals with dementia, but for their families and carers as well. Music has a profound ability to transcend cognitive decline, unlocking memories and emotions that might otherwise remain inaccessible. We have found that many people feel disconnected from mainstream healthcare services, either because they feel let down by existing services and cannot get the appointments they need, or because they do not feel that the services address their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. By offering alternative therapies, creative workshops and community activities, the monastery is becoming a model of integrative health that is both inclusive and accessible. For example, our Men’s Shed and Men’s Talking Group projects provide safe spaces for men to talk openly about their mental health, something that is still challenging in many communities. Similarly, our arts, crafts and creative workshops give people an opportunity to relax, de-stress and express themselves through art. These activities are all underpinned by the monastery’s commitment to social prescribing, which helps people access non-clinical support to improve their mental health and wellbeing. In July 2024, Gorton Monastery hosted the Pathways to Wellness Integrative Health Conference, which brought together NHS practitioners, GPs, alternative health experts and community members to explore the benefits of integrative health approaches. The event featured practical and trauma-informed workshops, such as laughter yoga, Alpha Stim micro-current therapy, somatics and sound baths, all of which showcased how heritage spaces like the monastery can support public health. The conference not only provided valuable insights into the mental health crisis but also reinforced the monastery’s role as a community health hub. We believe that the model we have developed has the potential to be replicated in heritage sites across the UK. Such spaces, with their intrinsic beauty and sense of place, are uniquely suited to supporting wellbeing. Healing does not happen only in hospitals and clinics. It can happen in the most unexpected places, like the sacred, peaceful walls of a monastery just outside the city of Manchester. Elaine Griffiths is co-founder of the Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust and CEO of the Monastery Manchester. Gorton Voice singing circle Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind cafe
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