Time to Shine Together
Time to Shine Together is a creative recovery programme delivered in Exeter, Devon, in partnership between The Academy of Wide‑Hearted Living CIC and Together Drug & Alcohol Services. Designed for adults in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, the programme helps participants reconnect with their creativity as a pathway to improved wellbeing, confidence, and hope for the future.
This is a summary of the Pilot project, which ran from September to December 2025.
The original plan was to bring a group of 8 – 10 people together, to explore a programme based upon Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way. We may have somewhat deviated from the plan but come December, we had a group of 6 who were bonded and open to the power of their creativity.
“Time to Shine has enabled me to have something positive to focus on and draw on creativity to help change the way I may feel when bored, distressed or struggling.”
Programme Purpose
Help participants build confidence, self-esteem, and optimism.
Provide a safe, trauma‑informed space for self-expression.
Support emotional regulation through creative practices.
Foster connection, community, and long-term wellbeing.
Sessions were guided by the NHS 5 Ways to Wellbeing, offering a holistic framework that nurtures resilience and reduces relapse risk.
Participant experience
Participants reported feeling more:
Connected
Confident
Relaxed
Hopeful
Integrated within their community
“Feeling proud to have completed the course and to have gotten to know everyone.”
Weekly check‑ins using the What 3 Words method showed consistent emotional uplift from the start to the end of each session.
Impact and outcomes
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
Five participants completed wellbeing assessments at the beginning, mid‑point, and end of the programme.
Overall results:
52.9% of responses improved
45.7% remained stable
1.4% declined
This reflects a strong positive trend in wellbeing across the group.
Challenges and learning
- Attendance varied for some participants.
Some individuals joined without fully understanding the programme.
Trust and group cohesion took time to develop.
Next steps:
Move to a closed‑group model for stability.
Co‑create clearer resources for future participants.
Future Vision
The programme has secured further funding from the Devon Community Foundation to continue working with the current cohort and develop resources for staff and future participants.
Long‑term, the aim is to build a peer‑led creative recovery community, empowering participants to become:
Mentors
Facilitators
Changemakers
This vision includes creative placemaking and public art that enriches local communities.
Results
