Helen Apsey

CC Team Lead

Helen Apsey is Policy Lead for Creative Communities at Northumbria University.

Helen joins the team from Make It York, where she was Head of Culture and Wellbeing, leading on the delivery of the York Culture Strategy alongside the city’s Culture Executive, the creative and culture sector and City of York Council, and on developing the city’s forthcoming Tourism Strategy alongside the York Tourism Advisory Board and Council. Helen led the development of and co-Chaired the city’s Culture Forum: a space open to anyone working in arts, culture, heritage, and creative industries, to come together to contribute to the Culture Strategy’s future direction and share knowledge, network, and collaborate.

Prior to this, Helen was Head of Policy and Impact for Nordoff and Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity, where she led on all policy and public affairs activity for the charity.

Helen’s skills include strategy development and implementation, policy and public affairs, marketing and communications, engagement, and building partnerships.

Helen is on the Board of Directors for Explore York Libraries and Archives. She believes that culture can support people’s wellbeing throughout their lives, and as community hubs and places that draw people together, libraries have a vital role to play in this.