Creative Start CIC

01/06/2026

On the 28th of June at the Blackgull, we've got two of our regular favourites 'Grungy Bill' and 'Brad Arliss' playing a special show for us...

'Bill and Brad's Excellent Adventure!' - in their words, 'History is about to be rewritten by two guys who can't spell!' We can't wait to see what they have in store for us.

Its another free event as part of our 'Sober Sessions' line-up for 2026. We've got lots more bands lining up to come and play at our venue over the summer, so keep an eye out for more announcements!

The community kitchen will be open for hot food and the café for speciality Coffees, Teas and cold drinks. Might even get the barbecue out if its nice!

Doors open at 2pm, music starts at 3pm. We look forward to seeing you there...

30/05/2026

20/05/2026

Really pleased to share this moment from the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards last week, where we were honoured to receive the Phillips 66 Respect Award, delivered in partnership with the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Jon and Laura represented Creative Start at the event and accepted the award on behalf of the organisation. We’re grateful to them both for stepping forward and representing the work we do.

It was a good reminder of the values at the heart of Creative Start, respect, inclusion, community, and the belief that people can grow and move forward when given the right environment and opportunity.

At the centre of our work is recovery, but also what recovery becomes when it’s lived well.

Sobriety is not just about time. It’s about direction. It’s about what people do with the stability they build. We see people begin to step into spaces they never thought they would, take on responsibility, and contribute in meaningful ways, often for the first time in their lives.

Moments like the awards ceremony are part of that. Not because of recognition itself, but because of what it represents, people growing, stepping forward, and being part of something bigger than where they started.

We’re proud of Jon and Laura for representing the organisation so well, and grateful to the wider team whose work every day makes these moments possible.

Thank you again to the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards, Phillips 66 and the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce for the recognition and continued support.

18/05/2026

15/05/2026

We just want to say a genuine thank you to Phillips 66 and the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce for the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards, and for the Phillips 66 Respect Award, which also recognises our work around equality, diversity and inclusion.

It means a lot to all of us at Creative Start.

Respect costs nothing but means everything.

At the heart of our work is a belief in belonging and inclusion. That everyone has a place. That people should feel safe, included and not judged by where they’ve come from or what they’ve been through. We also believe that with the right support and environment, people can grow, develop and achieve things they may never have thought possible.

One moment that really stayed with us was the Phillips 66 team coming to our building and working alongside our community to help restore and paint it. No barriers, no titles, just people getting stuck in. That’s what respect looks like in action, and it always goes both ways.

We believe respect means remembering what came before you and not forgetting the people who have helped you along the way. It means staying teachable. None of us are beyond that.

We are proud of the work we do and the values we hold, and we continue to try and live them as consistently as we can: respect, honesty, gratitude, resilience, compassion and loyalty.

Jon and Laura represented us at the awards and had a fantastic night on behalf of the team. We’re really proud of them.

Thanks again to Phillips 66 and the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce It was genuinely appreciated, and it won’t be forgotten.

12/05/2026

This week at Creative Start we’ve seen something powerful happen through art, recovery and lived experience.

Stake Art spent time working alongside Lee, one of our members who uses poetry as part of his own recovery journey. Together they brought words, emotion and recovery to life on the graffiti wall at King George stadium.

Stakes art supported Lee to spray paint one of his own poems for the first time, helping turn deeply personal recovery writing into public art. Stakes Ink also created a piece himself inspired by one of Lee’s poems, showing the strength, honesty and hope that recovery can hold.

Both pieces are powerful reminders that creativity can give people a voice, rebuild confidence and help turn pain into something meaningful. This is exactly why art and recovery work so well together, and exactly what we believe in at Creative Start.

A huge thank you to Stakes art for giving his time, talent and encouragement this week. The impact goes far beyond the wall itself.

09/05/2026

We’re proud to have been invited to help create two new murals for Bounce Back Alternative Provision an organisation that is setting the standard in supporting young people to re-engage with learning and move forward with confidence and purpose. Becky at Bounce Back AP Ltd

You can find out more about the work they do here:
www.bouncebackap.co.uk⁠

Based on Orwell Street, just off Cleethorpes Road, the new artwork marks the opening of their new building at the end of the month and celebrates the theme of growth, featuring animals, plants and symbols representing change, resilience, hope and potential.

The murals were created by our Community Arts Manager Kathleen Smith working alongside Stake Art with support from volunteers Melissa and Leia.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for the creativity, energy and teamwork that brought these walls to life. Projects like this show the power of art to transform spaces, create conversation and reflect the values of the people inside the building.

We’re grateful to Bounce Back for trusting us to be part of such an important new chapter and we can’t wait for the young people, staff and local community to enjoy the murals for years to come