Author: communications

MEET saba, AN ADULT CARER FROM manchester (carers week)

This Carers Week, we are shining a spotlight on the 5.7 million unpaid carers across the UK, whose dedication often goes unnoticed. Despite their vital role, only 32% of these carers can access a break whenever needed, as highlighted by research from Carers Trust.

At Create, we recognise the importance of respite for carers. That’s why we developed creative:voices our programme, which offers adult carers a chance to step away from their responsibilities and immerse themselves in creative activities. creative:voices enables carers to build trusting relationships with their peers, develop communication skills, discover new interests, and boost their confidence.

For six weeks in September and October 2023, carers from Manchester took part in ceramics workshops with Create’s professional artist Rebecca May. 

Saba told us about her experience.

SABA’S caring story

“I care for my children. Both my children have got special needs. The major care is for my son because he’s diagnosed with autism. My daughter is on the spectrum, but she doesn’t need that much support. But my son … it’s really hard.

“My caring responsibilities have affected my lifestyle a lot because all the time I’m worried and thinking about my children. And I’m doing every little thing for them because they can’t do everything for themselves. So, I have to overthink. I’m totally occupied. My brain is totally occupied, thinking all the time, day and night.

“Coming here … it gives me a break from that.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY

“I’ve taken part in the ceramics workshop with Create. I played with natural clay and Jesmonite. It was so creative and it formed very beautifully. With just natural and simple things you can create something so amazing and you come close to nature. It’s so valuable.

“And it makes you feel so good. All the time we’ve got so much pressure in our heads. I think that released.

You’re not thinking about your problems, you just forget everything and you put all your mind into creating something. It makes you feel outstanding.

“I have learnt a lot about myself. I was always feeling that I’m not doing much in my life. But when I created something, I felt that I’ve got so much talent in me which I did not know. I really felt very confident in creating those beautiful pieces.”

CONNECTING THROUGH CREATING

“The group was excellent. All of us were carers and we all have our own issues, but when we came together creating something, there was a very positive vibe amongst the group. And socialising is not so easily accessible for carers. I really enjoyed it, because we hardly get an opportunity like this.

“And I think it gave a lot of confidence to everyone because everybody was appreciating each other. I’ve enjoyed the appreciation that I got. I couldn’t believe that I could create such beautiful pieces myself. There was a lot of positivity in the group because everybody was creating something really amazing.”

This project is funded by The Smiles Fund, awarding funds from Comic Relief.

MEET ANAYA, AN ADULT CARER FROM LAMBETH (carers week)

Carers Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the selfless work of unpaid carers who dedicate their lives to supporting others. In honour of this special week, we want to share stories from creative:voices, our multi-artform programme designed to provide adult carers with much-needed creative breaks from their demanding roles. creative:voices not only offers a respite for carers, but also fosters the development of trusting relationships with peers, enhances communication skills, and nurtures new interests and confidence.

Recent statistics from Carers Trust reveal that more than one-third (36%) of respondents reported an increase in their caring role by 20-49 hours a week. Even more striking, one-in-eight respondents (12%) experienced an increase of over 50 hours a week. Despite their tireless efforts, only 55% of unpaid carers say they receive the support they need to fulfil their roles effectively.

Between October 2023 and March 2024, carers from Carers’ Hub Lambeth participated in a macramé workshops led by Create’s professional artist, Sam Haynes. These sessions provided a sanctuary for carers to explore their creativity and find solace amidst their busy lives. Anaya, one of the participants, shared her experience with us.

ANAYA’S caring story

“I’ve got two children who have autism. One is a bit more severe than the other and is in a special education school. I’ve been caring since they were born, so it’s been eleven years. Because of autism, I have to have a routine. I can’t just get up and do things that a [non-carer] parent could do. So, my life is very much revolved around them. It’s very limiting on what you can do. You can’t often do the things you want to do.

“I think the challenges [being a carer] are getting the correct support. And getting respite. You don’t get a lot of respite. You don’t get alone time. You’re doing it 24/7. Literally.”

FEELING FREE THROUGH CREATING

[Being creative] just feels free. You don’t get this space at home so it’s nice to feel free to do whatever you want.

And to do whatever that looks like with no judgement. It gives you space to breathe. You’re not thinking about the routines or the cleaning or organising the cooking. It’s just your space to be completely free.

“I’ve loved it. I’ve had my space every single week for me. I’ve met nice people and I’ve learnt about myself as well, actually to let go. [Create’s artist] Sam said something that stayed with me when we did the tiling. She said ‘don’t think about it’. I had already pre-planned in my mind what I was going to do, but I felt quite limited. And I felt that my best art came from what she said about letting yourself go and being free with your art. And that’s what’s helped me.

“I felt quite accomplished because I’ve seen it all through ‘til the end. And it’s a really good feeling. Taking the art home has been the best feeling.”

This project is funded by The Smiles Fund, awarding funds from Comic Relief.

Meet ASTRID AND Wren, young carerS from BURY

Since establishing Create’s Manchester hub in 2021, we have expanded our programmes across the North West of England, with 21% of all Create projects now taking place across this region. During the 2024 February half term , Create artist Ben Mellow led an inspired:arts drama project with young carers in Bury.

This provided young carers with a valuable opportunity to take a break from their caring responsibilities, have fun, learn new skills, build relationships, and express themselves creatively.

We spoke to Astrid (10) and Wren (9), who participated in the project.

astrid

“I started being a young carer at the end of 2022 for my mother with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. My dad has autism and ADHD. I help my mum and learned self-care from a young age. My life is different because my mum’s disability limits outings. When younger, other kids went places with parents, and I wondered why I couldn’t have that. I get anxious when separated from my parents and worried about going far from home.

“It was good to do something creative because I’m not creative. [During the Create project] we’ve been learning the performing arts and we’ve created images on stage. I enjoyed learning about what it’s like being at a theatre. I felt quite comfortable on the stage doing the acting because I felt safe and in the space with all our friends.

“I think these projects help young carers because they get you out of your comfort zone, and they help you try different types of art and performances. It’s good to do because some people can find something new that they like or find a new skill that they might have been hiding. And it’s fun to meet other people as well. I learnt that I can be more comfortable around people and more comfortable asking for things and asking questions.”

wren

“I started being a young carer when I was seven because my mum and my brother need quite a lot of support. My mum can’t do stuff by herself, and my brother has [severe] autism. Once I was off school for a week because I had a really bad stomach ache about how my mum was going to cope with my brother. I don’t normally do things like this because I get separation anxiety away from my mum, due to how much she struggles.

“[Projects like this] help young carers. We get to meet new people that we may have never seen before and express ourselves and our feelings. This week we’ve been working together as a team and we worked on the loop station to create soundscapes. I’ve enjoyed that we get to meet new people. At first it was bit nerve wracking, but as time went on it just got a bit easier. I started off not really understanding how to communicate with other people that I’ve never met, but then I got better and better with communicating. The [rest of the group] were really nice and were really fun to work with. They came up with really good ideas.

MEET PAM, AN ADULT CARER FROM sefton

creative:voices is Create’s multi-artform programme that enables adult carers to take a creative break from their caring responsibilities, build trusting relationships with their peers and develop communication skills, new interests and confidence.

According to Carers UK, 47% of carers said they needed more breaks or time off from caring.

For five weeks in May and June 2023, carers from Sefton took part in a mosaic project with Create’s professional artist Ruth Dillon. Pam (65) told us about her experience.

Pam’s caring story

“I cared for my husband and my mum, but my mum’s died now. She was 95 and had dementia for 18 years. My husband died in 2012. I do feel now the emptiness that they’ve gone. You think you’ll never laugh again but you do. I do have my moments but I’m looking back and thinking “how did I manage all of that?”.”

working with create

“We learnt about the [colour] spectrum, using colours in a certain way, which I’ve never thought of when I’ve done artwork. I’ve just sort of thrown myself into it, so that was different. Then, we went onto model making which was just lovely. Same with this mosaic. I just feel so pleased with what I’ve done. I made a hen and it’s my pride and joy on my mantlepiece at the moment.

“I do need motivation at times so this project has given me encouragement. It’s forced me in a good way. I’ve learnt not be afraid to have a go.

I’ve enjoyed everything – meeting everybody, the atmosphere, the format, the social aspect, and the fact that it’s quality projects we’re making. I can appreciate and feel good about it. I’ve got something to keep and look back on.

“I’ve bonded with the group and you wonder about them some weeks when they’ve not turned up. We help each other and share ideas. We plod on and maybe inspire each other to some point.”

THE JOY OF CREATING

“While I’ve been doing things here, I forget about all the other things going on in my life.”

“It’s just a lovely thing. It’s something that only you have done and you take ownership of it. I’d recommend it to anybody! You’ll be surprised at how good the work is. Everybody’s work is very pleasing.”