In August 2013, we took our inspired:arts project to Carers Support Merton where our professional artist Phoebe Davies worked with 13 young carers. They investigated personal identity and self-expression through photography, performance and writing. Each participant composed a photograph with their individual response to what identity means to them, which was exhibited at the end of the project.

Aamilah (15) cares for her younger brother, who is 11 and is diagnosed as having autism and behavioural difficulties. As he can be very demanding (particularly with regard to attention) and can display very challenging behaviour, Aamilah’s caring responsibilities have often impacted on her ability to engage freely in personal interests and socialise with her school friends. Aamilah joined Carers Support Merton in 2009, having recently relocated (along with her mother and brother) from Newcastle to London. This transition was incredibly difficult for the family, requiring them to build completely new support networks. After the project, she told us:

“I enjoyed creating an alter ego. Before the project, I’ve always been interested in psychology and alter egos come under abnormal psychology so I thought that was really interesting. I also enjoyed creating the mind maps about our identity.

“I feel more confident about talking about my identity, which is something I would normally shy away from doing because it’s personal to me. It has been quite hard because you make yourself vulnerable. You talk about things that are personal to you, which is a big deal. I’m sort of looking forward to sharing my work [at the exhibition] but I’m nervous about people seeing the work. I really like the rest of the group’s work!

“It’s been interesting working with an artist. I have enjoyed working with someone who knows what they are talking about, someone professional. I have met other artists before and they were so full of themselves but Phoebe is really down to earth, which is a good thing. You can talk to her. It’s been good working with other people because I don’t usually, I usually prefer to work by myself because I have a strong idea of what I want to do and I’m a bit of a control freak! But it has been good to work collaboratively; it’s been beneficial having to adapt to work with others. I have enjoyed working with everyone here because we get on. I like the idea of young carers coming together (for projects like this)!”

“Religion is the foundation for my life; it has helped me through so many dark times and always kept me between the lines of both right and wrong. I owe so much to my religion for guiding through what could be considered a difficult and unsettling adolescence. My photo displays what is known the Muslim world as the Shahada, which is the declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God’s Prophet. It translates from Arabic as: “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”

Aamilah’s name has been changed to protect anonymity.

This story is from 2013.

Rashmi (52) is the primary carer for her son Richard (27), who has ASD (autism spectrum disorders). They live in Hackney on a limited income: she had to leave her job in the civil service due to her own health problems. Here, she talks about her experience of creative:release, Create’s multi-artform project for adult carers in Hackney.

“I have been coming to the centre since 1987. I started attending shortly after Richard’s birth to get support, share ideas and meet new people. I’m involved with a mixture of activities, such as celebrations and exercise classes, although I mainly go to support group meetings. I like the centre, it’s an open place where you can always ask questions and it’s a way to meet other carers and professionals.

“I first learnt about creative:release through Valuing Carers, a group I attend at the centre, and the project has been wonderful! You don’t have to be artistic. Even if you’re not confident [in your art skills] you can attempt things, no one’s going to tell you off! I’ve enjoyed meeting new people. It’s nice to meet other carers and see what they’re going through, too. I tell everyone and anyone about it so they can join in!

“The ‘Seasons of Life’ theme was a challenge. When we first thought about it, my brain was overloaded! There are so many different ideas! But then you pick little things and you create. Sheridan [Create’s sculptor] has been wonderful. She’s introduced us to how to share your ideas and use your ideas in different formats. She’s taught us that you don’t need to be Picasso! I really enjoyed sharing ideas and looking at how you’re going to develop the final piece. I’m enjoying putting the final touches to [the sculpture] and hopefully that will be it!

“Projects like this are important because they develop people’s skills and open you out to your local community. They help to create a network of people and you can have fun. I want to let the government know that despite the cuts we can still have fun! The project has given me time away not to think about the cuts. You should invite Prince Harry, William, Kate and Boris Johnson to come and see what we’ve done!”

This story is from 2013.

In collaboration with Carers Support Merton (CSM), Create delivered a series of workshops as part of its inspired:arts programme for young carers in 2012/13.

The project reached 32 young carers aged 11-16 at CSM, who worked with Create’s professional artists to produce original dance, drama, songs, sculpture and photographs. The workshops were inclusive, self-contained and designed to allow the participants to arrive and leave as they needed to, so that each young carer could balance their “time out” at the project with their caring responsibilities.

Kojo, one of the carers who attends CSM, lives with his mum in a quiet suburban area. She is from Ghana and speaks little English. She has epilepsy and is partially blind and, with the language/communication difficulties, is unable to work. The family survives on a very low budget and Kojo is his mother’s primary carer. He has Asperger’s syndrome himself, which can impact on his understanding of the subtleties of communication and language.

As a result, he has led a sheltered life. He struggled to make friends in his area and at school, so at weekends he would stay at home doing things for mum, such as accompanying her to an all-night church service despite not really wanting to go. He does most of the shopping and helps her interpret letters and bills. Kojo’s mum is quite independent but if she has a seizure, Kojo knows what to do – CSM has done first aid courses with him. Here, he talks about his experience of inspired:arts.

“I took part in the drama, sculpting, photography and song-writing workshops. I hadn’t really done song-writing or sculpture before. My favourite was probably the drama – we were doing improvisation, making things up on the spot. It was pretty funny sometimes. We did different games using improvisation. There was one that we played called ‘Death in a Minute’. We got random scenarios and within a minute we had to find some way to die, and it had to be different to the other person’s. So sometimes it could get pretty random. The person I was with, he apparently tripped on a chair, hit his head, got a concussion and died; and I got eaten by a shark. We only had to die once, though!

“I really enjoyed the artists who led the projects. It really helped that they were professional – it made it more enjoyable in a way, more real. Olly [Create’s drama artist] was really funny … and he obviously knows what he’s doing because he’s done theatre. On the last day of the drama, we played a few of the improvisation games that we’d done, with the parents. I actually didn’t know about it till I heard about it, so it kind of threw me off a little bit, but it was alright. I was a little bit anxious to be performing but I felt proud afterwards.

“I learnt many new things from the workshops: I learnt better ways, in photography, using different features on a camera, like macro/micro. And using things the zoom as well. And there was loads of teamwork – I’d known the other carers before the project but I think I know them better now. It was easy to work with them. If I could pick any art form next, I’d like to try painting. I’m not normally keen on painting but I’m willing to try it! I wasn’t really interested in photography before I started doing it with Create, and now I’m a little bit more interested in it. Our photos got exhibited, which was quite good. We got to see all our work.

“When we were taking photos during that project there was this fair going on, and I took a picture of these … they weren’t exactly lollipops, but they were on lollipop sticks … and they were these doughnut balls or something. They had icing on them and I used macro when I was taking a picture of them, and quite a few people liked that picture! It was also in the exhibition, and sold! I didn’t actually expect that. I’m studying Media A-Level at the moment and I think a lot of these workshops, particularly photography, are going to help me. I feel that I’m more confident now.”

Kojo’s name has been changed to protect anonymity.

Photo: Kojo’s ‘cake popsicle’ photo taken during Create’s photography workshops, which later sold at the exhibition.

This story is from 2013.