Author: communications

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: FOUR CREATE ARTISTS SHARE FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Posted on August 12, 2024 by - Blogs

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: FOUR CREATE ARTISTS SHARE FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

We have partnered with The Reading Agency for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, designed to ignite children’s imaginations and foster creativity through the joy of reading.

This year’s Challenge theme is ‘Marvellous Makers’, encouraging children to explore new stories, join free library activities, and express creativity through various art forms. Our own professional Create artists have designed seven creative activities accompanying this year’s Challenge, from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing and painting.

We asked four of these inspirational artists – Alejandra Carles-Tolra, Beth Coleman, Rachel McGivern, and Paul Pickford – to share their favourite books and share how these stories inspire their creativity, showcasing the magical link between reading and artistic expression.

ALEJANDRA CARLES-TOLRA (PHOTOGRAPHER)

What is a book that inspires you?

“Press Here, by Herve Tullet”

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“With my artistic practice, I encourage myself and others to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. What I love about this book is that it turns simple circles into something really fun and exciting.”

Why should children read it?

“It demonstrates how simple it can be to be creative and use your imagination. It shows that you can have fun with anything in life.”

www.alejandractr.com

BETH COLEMAN (DANCER)

What is a book that inspires you?

“Dr. Seuss: Oh, the Places you’ll Go!”

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“I love the words and rhythm in this book. The language and illustrations conjure up amazing imagery in my head of this fun, outrageous and unpredictable story.

“It encourages me to think bigger when creating work, not take the obvious choice, and that any idea is worth exploring, even if it leads nowhere – I would have learnt something along the way which will be useful when I least expect it.

“I find it especially inspiring when I’m having a block. As an artist, this can feel scary but this book reminds me that it is completely normal and happens to everyone. Waiting just around the corner is a moment of brilliance (or an elephant on skates!) and I just need to trust I will find it when it’s right.”

Why should children read it?

“It’s easy to think that everybody else has it all figured out, especially when we feel like we don’t. But this book is a great reminder that life doesn’t follow a straight line, and there will be many twists and turns along the way. And who knows what magic awaits!”

‘You’re off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So … get on your way!’ – Dr. Seuss

@bethcolemanuk

RACHEL MCGIVERN (VISUAL ARTIST)

What is a book that inspires you?

“I really love the book Beastly Tales from Here and There by Vikram Seth, which I was given a copy of as a child.”

How has it inspired your artistic practice?

“I ended up studying illustration at university because I was really inspired by seeing how illustrations can add excitement and interest to stories. 

“The copy of Beastly Tales from Here and There I own has small, beautiful ink illustrations of animals with funny expressions and a sense of playfulness. I always try to bring energy into the art I make, and love using materials like ink, paint, pencils and collage as they look handmade and unique.”

Why should children read it?

“The book is made up of funny short stories, which rhyme, with lots of cheeky animals and characters. 

Vikram Seth was inspired by fables from lots of different countries about animals – India, China, Greece, Ukraine – and he’s even made up his own stories about the Land of Gup. 

I think this book is a good reminder that we can be playful with storytelling, come up with our own versions of old stories and also use art and drawing to bring them to life.”

@rachmcgivern

PAUL PICKFORD (VISUAL ARTIST)

What is a book that inspires you?

“A book that inspired and inspires me is The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.”

How has it inspired your creative practice?

“It inspired my artistic practice by being full of cool, weird and mysterious imagery and ideas. Also, the copy that I first read at school had brilliant illustrations that didn’t show too much but worked with your imagination. For example, the artwork showed the size of the space/bat/angel/dragon without any detail of precisely what it looked like. A great example of what illustrations should do, working with the words and not replacing or repeating them. On reflection, early in the story The Iron Man makes himself, which would have fuelled my model making and sculpture ideas.”

Why should children read it?

“I think it will intrigue and inspire them and for the best reason – it’s fun!”

@pickford7076 @paulpickford7076

Our Patron Isy Suttie has also shared a favourite children’s book with us and why she thinks creativity is so important. You can head over to her interview here.

RADIO DRAMA HELPS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES

Posted on July 24, 2024 by - Stories

RADIO DRAMA HELPS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES

changing:minds is Create’s multi-artform project for pupils with special educational needs (SEND) in Harrow. The project is designed to give the children and their teachers access to the benefits of high-quality creative arts activities.

For six weeks between April and June 2024, Create artist James Baldwin delivered radio drama workshops at Shaftesbury High School (SHS).

We spoke to Elisa, a teacher at SHS, about the main benefits of changing:minds for the participants, and the longer-term legacy of Create’s work at the school.

“My group of students has been taking part in a radio drama project for the last few weeks. Our theme has been around diversity and being different. First, the children took part in drama activities, which helped them to bond as a group and get comfortable with each other. Then they created characters that explore and celebrate being different. They created a really colourful and beautiful collage, but also a radio drama using their recorded voices.

The project has helped their wellbeing because it has given them space to make themselves vulnerable and open up.

“Having that space to make yourself vulnerable, but feel confident at the same time is really important.”

WHAT SKILLS DID THE YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP?

“It’s helped with their social skills. They’ve definitely bonded more as a group. They feel comfortable enough to laugh with each other.

“For our students, it’s quite difficult to have new people to come in and work with them. So, the fact they’ve been attentive and have followed instructions, and felt comfortable with you, has been really beneficial. It’s a very positive thing that they were engaged and willing to take part, and that they were all in a space where they [were] ready to learn and focus.

And then the confidence they found when speaking and the power in their voice has been such a positive takeaway.

“They were really confident when they recorded their [radio drama] piece towards the end of the project. It’s hard to like the sound of your own voice, but watching them today, I think they were all pleased with it. There wasn’t any silliness or anyone saying ‘you sound silly’. It was just really positive. It’s the little things like that, that really matter. That’s why this project is so important and very beneficial.”

the benefits of creativity

It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted.

“They have enjoyed being creative because it’s not structured. They’ve produced everything themselves. It’s their own ideas, it’s their own expression, it’s their own thought process.

“I can think of a thousand things to say as to [why it’s important to be creative]. I’m really passionate about creative arts for young people and particularly for young people with SEND.

“It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted. And I think that’s what this project has been all about and that’s why it’s so important.”

HOW CHANGING:MINDS HAS BENEFITED SHAFTESBURY HIGH SCHOOL

“I would say that [Create] are vital to our school. It’s a wonderful project and we’re so lucky to have access to what you do and the different variety of what’s on offer within creative arts. And to work with professionals. You’re so skilled and in tune with SEND children and you know exactly where and how to pitch everything. It’s so niche, but you really know how to do what you do and it’s been fantastic. It would be very sad not to have you come in and work with us every year. It truly is a huge, huge benefit to our school.

“I loved some of the drama games and I’ve actually stolen a few of those [for my own teaching], because they were really good. And they really resonated with the children because they were going on about it all week. It made an impression.

“[changing:minds has] given them access to things they wouldn’t normally do. That’s what’s really good. That’s key.”

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF CHANGING:MINDS?

“I think the legacy [of the project] is the impact. You’ve just got to look at the children and what they’ve produced week on week and how they’ve built on knowledge and skills and I think that’s it right there, to be honest.”

changing:minds was funded by John Lyon’s Charity.

THE CREATIVE ARTS AND EDUCATION

Posted on July 24, 2024 by - Stories, Blogs

THE CREATIVE ARTS AND EDUCATION

Creativity in education significantly enhances students’ learning experiences and overall development. At Create, our programmes, led by professional artists, offer participants high-quality creative arts experiences. Research by Linearity shows that participation in art-based programmes positively impacts academic achievements, and correlates with higher student engagement, increased confidence, and a strong desire to learn. After engaging in creativity, students become more responsible for their learning, feel confident mastering complex material, and are willing to take risks.

Staff members at the special needs schools that have taken part in Create projects shared with us the significant educational benefits their students gained from engaging with creative arts activities.

IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ENGAGEMENT

Charlotte, a teacher at Forster Park Primary School in the London Borough of Lewisham, took part in creative:connection, our programme that brings together disabled and non-disabled children.

“The project was stop motion animation. It was all about the mixing of [students from our school and Greenvale School], making connections with each other, enjoying creating their visual artworks together and having that sense of belonging.

“Our pupils got along fantastically. They were very patient and very accommodating. They’ve taken those skills away too. They can be very patient with each other and accommodating of everyone’s needs.

“We’ve got one child in particular who really struggles to stay in his classroom. Yesterday he had the best day ever. He did all his work, he stayed in class, he became a helper for the teacher and everything. All because he’s learnt things from these [workshops]. He’s become a lot more considerate within the classroom. He is able to let other people have a turn. And he’s been sitting for periods of time.”

Developing Essential Skills Through Creative Arts

environment:matters is our environmental project with schoolchildren who have special educational needs. We spoke to teacher Serena about the project that took place at Haymerle School. This was designed to upskill and empower the children through music.

“The independence skills and the [children’s] engagement and focus has been the biggest development. It’s been amazing seeing them. For example, some children only came for two minutes the first week, and then were there for 20 minutes eight weeks later. That is a massive improvement for our children. This might normally take months or years for them to do. It was pretty impressive.

They worked really well together and it was nice seeing relationships develop.

“Even the bickering and arguing was nice to see, as it’s a very neurotypical thing to bicker. And they were appreciating each other’s work and praising each other at the exhibition, which was just lovely.”

We would like to thank Kusuma Trust for funding this creative:connection project and BNP Paribas for funding environment:matters.

Create shortlisted for Mental Health Awards

Posted on July 15, 2024 by - News, Blogs

Create shortlisted for Mental Health Awards

I am delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards 2024.

Our creative:voices programme has been shortlisted in the Innovative Proactive Wellbeing category, which is designed to celebrate innovative wellbeing interventions or activities that have had a positive impact over at least two years.

creative:voices is Create’s multi-artform programme that offers adult carers the opportunity to take a creative break from their responsibilities, foster trusting relationships, and cultivate new skills, interests, and confidence. Each project empowers carers to explore their creativity and self-expression through high-quality creative arts workshops led by our professional artists. They are given a chance to meet others and boost their mental wellbeing through music, dance, painting, photography, drama and a host of other artforms.

The impact of caring on mental health

Adult carers provide unpaid care for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. The impact of caring goes beyond “just” a commitment of time and energy: many carers also experience social isolation and believe that their physical and emotional health has been negatively affected by their responsibilities.

Carers in Manchester getting creative.

A 2023 Carers UK report on carers’ health found that a significant proportion of carers said their mental health has been affected by caring: 79% of carers feel stressed or anxious, 49% feel depressed, and 50% feel lonely. 61% of carers said they needed more support to be able to look after their health and wellbeing.

“Projects like this help carers with our mental health. They give us somewhere to go. There’s a lot of fear. You don’t really know what we’re suffering because we’re all in houses by ourselves. We’re all in isolated little pockets, so unless we come together, we don’t know what’s happening for other people.” – Adult carer Renee

Improving mental wellbeing through the creative arts

The positive impact of creativity and arts engagement on mental health and overall wellbeing has been firmly established by decades of research. In 2019, the World Health Organisation reported that 3,500 studies had shown the widespread health improvements that came from arts engagement, from neurological disorders to child development.

We designed creative:voices to alleviate feelings of isolation and enhance mental health and wellbeing, enriching carers’ sense of belonging in their community and increasing their confidence in themselves and their abilities.

“I enjoyed the project and found it therapeutic. It always brightened my day when I came here. You don’t know what creativity you have until you try it.”

Adult carer Lia

We piloted the project in 2011 with Carers Lewisham. The pandemic highlighted as never before the inequalities and isolation faced by adult carers and, thanks to a significant three year grant in 2022 from the Comic Relief/Walkers Smiles Fund for projects improving mental wellbeing, were able to expand creative:voices to nine services that year. The programme has continued to expand: projects with 18 services are being planned for 2024/25.

We are thrilled that the creative arts are being recognised as a powerful tool for enhancing mental wellbeing through this shortlisting of creative:voices.

“The sessions always bring out the better version of me. It affords me the “me” I crave. It is time used to realise my abilities with my caring role. I thoroughly enjoy being in the company of other carers and I can share without being judged.” – Adult carer

Nicky Goulder, Founding Chief Executive

Summer Reading Challenge brings creativity to children across Britain

Posted on July 12, 2024 by - News, Blogs

Summer Reading Challenge brings creativity to children across Britain

Create is delighted to be partnering with The Reading Agency for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which aims to fire up children’s imaginations and unleash creativity through the power of reading.

The Challenge launched on 22 June in Scotland and online and 6 July in England and Wales, during Create Week. Create worked closely with The Reading Agency to develop the theme for this year’s Challenge – ‘Marvellous Makers’ – and we’re very excited to see children across the country exploring their creative side this summer.

The annual Challenge, which aims to inspire children aged between 4-11 to read for fun over the summer holidays, is delivered in partnership with public libraries, and it’s free to take part. From June to September, children taking part in ‘Marvellous Makers’ can discover new stories, join in with free activities at the library, and explore their creativity – from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing and painting.  This year’s bespoke illustrations are created by celebrated illustrator Natelle Quek. Taking place in libraries and online, the Summer Reading Challenge provides the perfect opportunity for active minds to explore, imagine, and create in a supportive and engaging environment.

This year’s ‘Marvellous Makers’ theme will inspire children’s inner storytellers, motivating them to be curious and to tell their own stories through various creative outlets. As part of the partnership, Create’s artists have developed seven creative activities involving different artforms that children can engage with wherever they are and become ‘Marvellous Makers’ themselves.

Nicky Goulder, Founding CEO of Create, said: “This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to bring creativity to young people across the country. People need to create, and everyone deserves access to the life-enhancing power of the creative arts. ‘Marvellous Makers’ brilliantly combines the joy of reading and the wonder of creativity, providing young people with new opportunities to express themselves. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.”

Create Patron and Summer Reading Challenge Champion Isy Suttie

Leading names in the creative arts are supporting the initiative as Challenge Champions including actor, TV presenter, musician and author Jordan Stephens, Welsh Laureate and children’s author Alex Wharton, and our very own Create Patron, comedian, actress, and author Isy Suttie.

Speaking about the Challenge, Isy Suttie said: “I was incredibly chuffed to be asked to become a Summer Reading Challenge Champion. Reading has always formed the backbone of my life and I believe passionately that it does wonders for us as humans to be truly absorbed in a book – one of the reasons being a Create Patron is so important to me. A book you adore can provide excitement, solace and strength.”

The Summer Reading Challenge aims to prevent the “summer dip” learning loss many children experience over the holidays when they aren’t in school. In 2023, over 685,000 children across the UK participated.

Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge sparks children’s creativity and imagination through reading. Developed with Create, this year’s ‘Marvellous Makers’ theme will inspire kids’ inner storytellers and makers. We’re thrilled to work with libraries to provide an engaging environment for exploring new ideas through books and activities.”

Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge

21 YEARS OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO DREAM

Posted on July 7, 2024 by - Blogs

21 YEARS OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO DREAM

Yesterday, 7 July 2024, Create turned 21 and officially came of age.

Although much has changed since 2003, my vision on starting the charity – of a world in which everyone has access to the educational, social and life-enriching benefits of the creative arts – has stayed the same. So too has the charity’s mission:  of using the creative arts to connect, empower, inspire and upskill society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people, raising aspirations, building self-esteem, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing.

I’m proud that, since founding Create, we have delivered 14,797 workshops that have brought joy, skills, inspiration, connection and wellbeing to 46,382 of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adults across the UK. That’s equivalent to a convoy of 533 packed double decker buses!

Our 20th anniversary year has been a year of festivities, important developments and achievements. We celebrated our 20th birthday with a special event for our people; and produced a short film looking back on 20 years of creativity. It’s good to know that whilst so much has changed in that time, my face looks just the same!

One of my highlights has been launching programmes with two important new groups of participants: children looked after/ care leavers; and survivors of modern slavery. Seeing survivors’ incredible artwork displayed on the Piccadilly Lights screens in Piccadilly Circus to coincide with Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October 2023 was an emotional moment for us all, powerfully reflected by the participant who told us:

I AM MORE CONFIDENT AND FEEL PROUD THAT I CAN CALL MYSELF AN ARTIST!

– cREATE PARTICIPANT

Another was our ‘Feeding Creativity’ campaign with Jacksons of Yorkshire, which launched on three million loaves across the UK in July 2023. As part of the campaign, we ran a nationwide poll, which gave us further evidence for the importance of Create’s mission. 93% of Brits surveyed said that creativity is important to their wellbeing, while 28% and 27% respectively said that lack of inspiration and insufficient money were barriers to creativity. And that’s where Create comes in, providing free, professionally-run creative arts projects with those who need them most.

Through Jacksons’ sponsorship, we were able to run projects with young carers in four different locations, building on our extensive programme – first developed back in 2007 – with this group of selfless young people. We were delighted that this work was recognised with a prestigious Children & Young People Now Highly Commended award in November 2023.

Following the launch of our Manchester hub in 2021, we continued to expand our work across the North West and beyond, delivering more than 300 workshops from the hub during the year. One very special moment was our creative:connection music showcase at Manchester Central Library in October 2023. This gave 57 disabled and non-disabled young people the opportunity to share new music that they had created together earlier in the week with a group of our professional musicians. Part of Manchester Literature Festival, their stunning performance featured on BBC Radio.

Our 20th anniversary year came to an end with the launch of two important new initiatives that we have designed to shine the spotlight on the importance and value of creativity. Create Week took place from 1-7 July as a catalyst for individuals and organisations who are passionate about creativity to raise awareness of the benefits of the creative arts. We shared creative activities designed by seven of our professional artists. And it was inspiring to see so many individuals and organisations enthusiastically engage with our campaign, sharing their stories and highlighting why creativity is vital to their lives and communities.

On 2 July, we launched Create Conversations, our new series of talks conceived to spark meaningful discussions on the role of creativity in society. The first was focused on the importance of improving access to the creative arts and it was a privilege to explore this crucial topic with Jordain Edwards, Nicola Kemp, Caroline Mair and our Patron, Nicholas McCarthy.

I’m delighted to see a growing awareness of the unique and valuable benefits that creativity brings for both individuals and wider society. People need to create, and this is becoming more widely understood as the evidence for the impact of creativity continues to grow. The creative arts empower lives, offering hope, inspiration, skills and connection to others. And here at Create, we firmly believe that access to creativity is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

I am proud of the passion, commitment, drive and energy that our incredible staff team has shown over two decades. I am inspired by our pool of inspirational professional artists who deliver our workshops. I am delighted that year after year, 99% of our partner organisations have rated their Create programme “successful overall”. And I am humbled that our work has been recognised with 124 awards since 2012, including Charity of the Year (2020) and Digital Transformation of the Year (2021).

Above all, I am thankful to the incredible children and adults that we work with, who inspire and motivate me every day. As our Youth Ambassador, Abi, told me:

“Creativity lets me dream”.

MEET CELIA A CREATIVE:ENGAGEMENT PARTICIPANT

Posted on June 27, 2024 by - Stories

MEET CELIA A CREATIVE:ENGAGEMENT PARTICIPANT

creative:engagement is Create’s multi-artform project with older people with dementia or poor mental health, supported by Ashurst volunteers. The project aims to build skills and confidence, giving participants a chance to express themselves, connect with others and enhance their overall wellbeing.

Between June and September 2023, participants took part in a series of visual art workshops with Create artist Liz Jackson.

Celia (71) has taken part in several Create projects. We spoke to her about what they mean to her.

“What I like about Create, and why I have begged to continue coming here, is because I live on my own. So, it’s nice to come here with a group of people and get to know others.

“Today we’ve been working on weaving – either paper, material or fabric weaving. Some of us have used a combination of materials in order to produce something. But during my visits [to create projects] over the past 18 months now, we’ve done photography, ceramics, jewellery making, fimo clay. I’m not great at any of them, but I enjoy it all. And as far as I’m concerned, you can always learn new things. You can always develop. I like playing around with things and also seeing how well other people do with it.

“I quite enjoy watching others develop their ideas. It’s great fun to be able to do that with other people. We are bouncing off each other and seeing things we hadn’t thought of doing or trying. So, there’s very much this element of working together, creating and chatting that I enjoy.

“For me, it is very important to be able to create. I end up picking up skills and trying out something that I wouldn’t have tried out at home. And it’s great because I don’t have to be an expert at it. We have some information and loads of choices in terms of materials, so we can be creative in the way we want to be. There’s no competition. We have people who advise us, but we can just go with it and enjoy ourselves.

“Create allows people, many of whom don’t have other outlets, to come together. It’s really quite nice working with and making friends with them. I really enjoy that.”

creative:engagement is a partnership with Ashurst. Employees support the project, working creatively with the participants and building supportive relationships.

CONVERSATION WITH CREATE WRITER CHERYL MOSKOWITZ

Posted on June 27, 2024 by - Stories

CONVERSATION WITH CREATE WRITER CHERYL MOSKOWITZ

Image credits to Children’s Poetry Summit

To celebrate Create Week, we spoke to Create’s professional writer Cheryl Moskowitz about the profound impact of nurturing one’s creativity.

Cheryl has a background in writing, drama and psychology, and has been working as a Create artist for 20 years.

A recent study by Linearity revealed that 40% of people feel they need more tools or resources to tap into their creative potential. Our conversation with Cheryl unveils a different perspective, however, showcasing how unlocking your imagination is often about mindset rather than materials.

WHAT DOES CREATIVITY MEAN TO YOU?

We are at our most creative when we don’t have everything we need around us and so we find resourcefulness within ourselves.

Cheryl Moskowitz

“A child’s play is so creative, because they haven’t got a everything they need. And through play they can make the world that they have in their imaginations.

“I think we all have questions in our imaginations and we also have experiences that we’ve had that we need to play out again and again to work out why they were so disturbing or exciting or exhilarating. So, creativity is where you recreate a world or experience that you’re still working out, that you can’t let go of. And that for me is at its heart, a life force. It’s what we need to do. We need to be creative in order to live well. And so, creativity is at the heart of wellbeing.

“I know what creative activity does for me as a person and how my art is both something which is a way of getting to a deeper place of knowing myself for myself, and it’s also a way of communicating something more essential and important to others.”

WHAT ARE ARTIST SHARING DAYS?

Whilst a member of Create’s Creative Council, Cheryl pioneered the concept of Artist Sharing days. These innovative gatherings allow artists and project managers to collaborate, exchange insights, and refine their facilitation skills, fostering a deeper connection and understanding within our creative community.

“I suggested the Artist Sharings as a way to create a forum for [Create artists and project managers] to come together. The things we do as artists and facilitators are often so hard to define. There are no real training programmes out there that teach you how to be an artist, or teach you how to be a facilitator. We learn by participating and by being in the presence of someone who has an effect on us.

“Create has artists working with lots of different participants and bringing in lots of different ideas and ways of working, so it felt tantalising to come together and learn from each other. And I think some of the Create workshops that I’ve enjoyed doing most were the cross-artform ones, where we got to cross paths a little bit with one another. So it just seemed to me to be an obvious thing. We’re all such a rich resource we all want to expand our own way of thinking and working. And it’s a really wonderful thing.”

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

Posted on June 10, 2024 by - Stories

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)

Posted on June 10, 2024 by - Stories

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.