Values and benefits of heritage: a paper by the Heritage Lottery Fund

There is widespread agreement that the strongest evidence of impact on individuals is found in what might be called ‘personal development’ e.g. new skills, new experience, improved confidence, changed attitudes; education support. The evidence for all these impacts overlaps considerably with that for ‘learning’.

The use of literature, creative writing and poetry in mental health services produces significant benefits for both the patient and the care provider. It enables patients to regain control over their own inner world, increasing their mental wellbeing. It helps the nursing and medical staff to understand the cultural, social, ethnic and economic factors influencing the behaviour of patients.