Jayne Howard from Falmouth has been presented with the Arts and Health South West Individual Contribution Award in recognition of her work across the county over many years.

The prize, which is sponsored by the Fine Family Foundation, is awarded by the judges to mark a significant contribution by an individual to the field of arts and health in the South West.

Jayne was director of Penryn-based Arts for Health Cornwall from 2004 to January this year, during which time it delivered a wide range of programmes aimed at improving health and well-being and had far-reaching impact on individuals, organisations and communities, as well as winning several awards for its work.

Jayne said: "I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have received this award and thank the judges and the Fine Family Foundation for the recognition. The contribution of arts, culture and creativity to health and wellbeing is increasingly valued and I am proud to have played a part in developing many projects and programmes that have benefitted people across Cornwall."

Arts for Health Cornwall closed earlier this year, the trustees citing "the increasingly challenging economic climate for small charities" for their difficult decision. Jayne is continuing to work in the arts and health field on a freelance basis however and plans to find new ways of taking forward innovative projects and supporting others through training and project management and evaluation of their arts and health activities.

She spoke of the legacy left by Arts for Health Cornwall in her acceptance speech, with arts, health and social care organisations increasingly taking on this work and a wide range of creative practitioners well-equipped to help them deliver it.

Jayne's career began as a teacher of English and drama in Birmingham, before she moved to the NHS where she spent 18 years in a variety of senior management roles. Her first work in arts and health was at Birmingham Women's Hospital where she was part of a team that commissioned a wide range of art works as part of a hospital refurbishment. She moved to Cornwall in 1995 and led NHS Cornwall's Health Action Zone programme, which supported the establishment of Arts for Health Cornwall as an independent organisation harnessing the creative talents within the county to address health needs.

During its 14 years, the charity delivered a wide range of projects for older people, people with dementia, people with mental health problems, children in care, families, homeless people and people with disabilities, benefitting over 14,000 people in that time. The organisation also won several national awards, including a GSK King's Fund IMPACT award for excellence in improving health.