EXPLORING DIFFERENT ART FORMS THROUGH CREATIVE:VOICES

Unpaid carers dedicate their time and energy to supporting others, meaning they often miss out on opportunities to prioritise their own wellbeing. At Create, we recognise the importance of giving adult carers time for self-care, creativity and connection. Through our creative:voices programme, we deliver workshops across the UK, using a wide range of art forms to support carers in rediscovering joy and building resilience.
In 2024/25, we partnered with 16 different adult carer services, to offer participants respite from their caring responsibilities. Projects ranged from textiles and painting to photography and song writing.
We spoke to Ligia, Hilary and Marcus who shared their experiences of creative:voices.
THE CHALLENGES OF CARING FOR A VULNERABLE FAMILY MEMBER
For many carers, the role can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially when their loved ones have complex needs.
Ligia, an adult carer from Lambeth, shared her experience of caring for her son:
“He’s 13-years-old now and he’s autistic. He’s really bright, but he’s very anxious and worried and he catastrophises a lot. He struggled a lot in the transition to year seven. And every day for six months I was fighting for his rights in the school. It’s still not perfect, but we’re getting there.”

Similarly, Marcus, also from Lambeth, balances caring for his son and his mother:
“I’m a single parent. My son is 13 and he’s autistic. [I’m his] primary carer. I also care for my mother, who’s had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease so her memory is not very good at the moment. It [can] be quite isolating [being a carer]. Because of my son’s autistic state, he’s virtually monosyllabic. Sometimes he refuses to talk to me. I do not often have the chance to do creative things normally due to my circumstances.”
Hilary, from Lewisham, reflected on the challenges of caring for her daughter, who has complex mental health needs:
“I care for my 18-year-old daughter. She’s waiting for a firm assessment for borderline personality disorder, which is one of the hardest mental health conditions to live with. She also has autism and ADHD. So, her needs have always been very complex. I’ve been caring for her all her life. It’s been quite difficult to manage. “

These stories highlight the immense dedication that carers show and the toll that caring responsibilities can take on their emotional wellbeing and social lives.
ENGAGING WITH DIFFERENT ARTISTIC PRACTICES
Our creative:voices programme offers carers a chance to engage with different forms of creativity, helping them rediscover parts of themselves beyond their caring role.
For Ligia, the textiles workshops were a meaningful way to reflect on her identity and share her creativity:
“We’ve been doing a textiles workshop, exploring a lot of techniques related to fabrics, different textures and materials, and upcycling. On the first day we got the news that our work would be displayed in a [White Stuff] shop window.”
I made a mandala that has got many pieces of who I am. Because as carers, we often put our lives on pause and we can forget who we are. I’m feeling really pleased with it.
Meanwhile, Marcus, who took part in the song writing workshops, described his newfound love for singing:
“I’ve never sung before, other than a little practicing at home when I’m chopping the onions. But I’ve never sung with other people like this. The songs we’ve created are sort of spontaneous. People have written stuff down and the fantastic musicians have added notes and chords to these words. It’s quite magical.”
CONNECTING WITH OTHER CARERS
In addition to exploring their creativity, many carers value the opportunity to build connections and friendships with others who understand their experiences.
Ligia shared how meaningful it was to be in a space where she could speak openly about her son’s challenges:
“I’m a single mother, so there are a lot of things in my social life that get put on pause. That’s why workshops like these are really good for carers. We can come here and talk with other parents in similar situations, which really helps. [These projects] definitely help carers reduce isolation.”

Similarly, Hilary shared how the workshops strengthened her connections with others and encouraged collaboration:
“I’ve met other people and I got to know the people I already knew even better. I liked the group work. I think everybody’s got something to offer. And we all took very different pictures of the same things.”
Marcus also appreciated the group dynamic, describing how uplifting it was to connect with others through music:
“[The workshops have] been a wonderful experience, and the musicians are so creative and spontaneous. There is an element of magic in the room. And I’ve learnt that I have got a little bit of musicality [in] me! “[I’ve enjoyed] the creative process, and the communal aspect to it is wonderful as well. I’ve left here really quite happy with a spring in my step.”

Through creative:voices, carers not only discover new ways to express themselves but also a sense of belonging and support, reminding us that creativity can be a vital lifeline for connection, respite and self-discovery.
We are proud to have won a prestigious Mental Health Award for creative:voices in 2024.
creative:voices is funded by The Smile Fund, awarding funds from Walkers and Comic Relief