Create Live! is Create’s online, interactive project initiative developed to reach participants during the lockdown, offering a creative lifeline to the most vulnerable adults and children in isolation.

Over three days in April 2020, Create’s professional photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra delivered photography workshops with young carers from Kingston. Mary* (13) has been caring for as long as she can remember for her younger brother Harry* (11), who has Down Syndrome and diabetes.

These are her reflections on the workshops:

“Over the last three days, we’ve been looking at different techniques for taking pictures, experimenting with different objects, and expressing our creative sides by taking photos. Doing a creative workshop over video call was actually really good because of the break-out rooms where we could work in smaller groups. It was a lot easier to use the technology than I expected it to be. The only difficult thing is WIFI for some people isn’t always so good. It was a really good workshop for being stuck inside!

“I learnt that when I put my mind to something, I can create good work and really improve my skills.”

Young carer Mary

“I’ve learned a lot about using light in photographs from the workshops. Alejandra was a really good teacher and I learnt a lot from her. She was good at getting everyone really involved in the workshop and taking turns. I would like to continue to work on being more unique in my photography and adding a bit of a spin to each picture. I learnt that when I put my mind to something, I can create good work and really improve my skills.

“Lockdown has impacted my caring role a lot. When my parents have work calls I have to look after my brother. In the morning I get up and help out with managing Harry’s diabetes. I’ve been caring for him my whole life, or since I was two as that’s when he was born. I don’t find it too hard because I’ve never known anything different. I find looking after him quite easy now. Since the lockdown, the biggest changes are being around family a lot more. It’s really nice but sometimes it can get quite stressful with the whole family in the house and Harry.”

“It was really good to work with other people. It was good to see what other people can produce and see their take on things. It was a really great experience to meet people who are also young carers and know how I feel. It was really good to meet everyone and find out their ideas about this project.”

Name of young carer and her brother changed to protect anonymity

Young carers are a vulnerable group of children who often experience bullying, isolation and mental ill-health. Most of the 700,000 young carers in Britain take on up to 20 hours of caring responsibilities a week. Some care for more than 50.

Create’s creative arts programmes with young carers encourage them to express themselves and develop confidence, self-esteem and supportive relationships with other young carers.

Meet Owen

Owen, 16, cares for his mother, who suffers from depression and chronic pain, as well as his older brother, who is blind. He told us about his experiences taking part in Create filmmaking and music workshops in Bath.

“My mum developed a back problem when I was about 12 years old. It progressed until a doctor told her she couldn’t work anymore and she now suffers from depression and constant pain. But like everything, my home life has its ups and downs. You have to make the best of what you’ve got.

“I like to be creative but I don’t often get creative opportunities like this. I can draw at home but I wouldn’t have the equipment to go out and make a film. And although I had tried filmmaking before, I didn’t have the opportunity to look at different camera shots or experiment with new techniques like I have done here.

“Knowing you’ve created something gives you a nice feeling. I felt a lot of pride when making the soundtrack.”

Owen

“Since we had SouthGate Centre to use as a location, we decided to make a film about a group of friends going out to town. With every team there are moments. Young carers all have something which can cause tension or drama with other people. But I really enjoyed working with such a motivated group of people.

“It was really nice to explore making music because I’ve never had the chance to try it out before. Being in this environment with musicians who are friendly and have a laugh with you really encouraged me to try new things and expand my skills and knowledge. Knowing that you’ve created something gives you a nice feeling. I felt a lot of pride when making the soundtrack; pride and a feeling of accomplishment in saying, ‘Yeah, I did that.’”

Read about Create’s Children & Young People Now ‘Young Carers’ Award.

inspired:arts is Create’s multi-art programme for young carers. In August inspired:arts went to Newham where actor James Baldwin worked with young people from Family Action Newham and Tower Hamlets. The group wrote and performed monologues, experimenting with narrative structure and characterisation. inspired:arts enabled the young carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, build trusting relationships with their peers and develop social skills and confidence.  

Chris cares for his mother who has terminal cancer. He talked about being a carer and taking part in inspired:arts:

“My mum’s cancer is terminal and she is often at the point where she can get upset. All I can do is help her out as much as I can. Sometimes she has to go to hospital in an emergency, sometimes she isn’t feeling well. I have a lot of responsibilities but I don’t mind. I want her to know that her son is doing good in life and to make her proud.

“Projects like this are important because I need some time off. This is a really good opportunity for me to make new friends and take some time for myself. It made me feel more relaxed and know I’m in a place with other young carers where I can enjoy myself.

“IT MADE ME FEEL MORE RELAXED AND KNOW I’M IN A PLACE WITH OTHER YOUNG CARERS WHERE I CAN ENJOY MYSELF.”

Young carer Chris

“For the drama project we were writing and performing monologues, which had to show two emotions, so I did happy and angry. Learning that every story has a problem and a resolution, a bad part and a good, and we had to put that into the monologue.

“I felt nervous before the performance because I was doing it in front of an audience but I felt like I could do it. I knew I had to get over the nerves and do my best. It was enjoyable once I was on stage in front of the audience. I feel like I’m showing what I can do and what I’m good at.

“It was great working with James [Create’s artist]; he’s a really good guy. Working with him is very different from being in school. He always keeps us going if we need any help and he’s full of ideas. When I’m in school there’s only one teacher for a big class, but here James has time for everyone and you learn from the other young people too.

“Doing this project I learned that I can work with new people who I don’t know. If you meet new people you have more friends, and the more you have you feel like you’re in a world where people can help you.”

* Name of young carer changed to protect anonymity

inspired:arts is Create’s multi-art programme for young carers. This December (2017) inspired:arts has been in Merton where our jewellery designer Hayley Kruger has been working with young people from Carers Support Merton.

The group have experimented with various materials and design techniques to produce a range of jewellery, as well as seasonal Christmas decorations. Working in small groups enables the young carers to build upon teamwork and communication skills alongside developing their creativity. inspired:arts has given them a break from their caring responsibilities, encouraging them to build trusting relationships with their peers and develop social skills and confidence.

Cameron’s older brother has severe Global Development Delay, microcephaly and epilepsy. Now seven, Cameron has been caring for him since he was four years old. Cameron talked to us about taking part in inspired:arts.

“We’ve been making jewellery – making different designs by twisting and twirling the materials around, then tying them up. Today we’ve been doing designs with ribbon. We’re going to hang them from Christmas trees, so the trees can be decorated. We’ve not just been making Christmas decorations all the time though – we’ve been doing lots of different jewellery designs.

“Things like this are good for young carers like me because people have lots of fun and make creative, colourful stuff.”

Cameron

“I felt very happy working with Hayley because she was so kind. It was lots of fun working with the rest of the group too, and now I’ve made some new friends. By taking part I’ve learnt that working in a group is not all about me – it’s about listening to others and having respect.

“Things like this are good for young carers like me because people have lots of fun and make creative, colourful stuff. Now that it’s the last session, I feel sad that you’ll never ever come back!”

(Don’t worry Cameron – Create will be running inspired:arts with Carers Support Merton again in February).

* Name changed to protect anonymity

Read about inspired:arts

art:space, our partnership with British Land, is our multi-artform project for young carers. During February 2018, our professional artist Jen worked with a group of young carers using the medium of printmaking to develop confidence, creative and social skills, and build relationships with other young carers while having a vital – and fun – break from their caring responsibilities.

“Being creative helps me relax. Projects like these help me realise I can do more than I thought I could.”

Paul, young carer

Paul, who cares for his dad who suffers from depression, attends Kingston Young Carers Project and took part in the workshops. He talks about his experience:

“I care for my dad. He has, I don’t know if you would call it an illness, but something called depression where he gets stressed and upset very easily and it can be hard sometimes. I’ve been caring for my dad since I can remember. I think young carers tend to spend a lot more time with their family. People that don’t have someone to care for someone tend to be more sociable and have more friends.

“We have been printing on T-shirts and bags for the last few days which has been fun. Making something gives you a feeling of pride. It was great working with a professional artist that has so much experience, she was able to show us new techniques and bring the most out of us. It was good working with the group as everyone had different styles and different ideas about what they wanted to make. Doing something creative was great especially as there were loads more resources here that we would never have access to at home.

“Being creative helps me relax. Projects like these definitely help as they distract us and let us have good times. They help me realise I can do more than I thought I could.”

In the UK there are an estimated 700,000 young carers who have varying degrees of caring responsibilities, some spending more than 50 hours each week caring for a loved one. Young carers often have no creative outlet and lack the chance to play with their peers.

Our projects offer a chance for young carers to develop confidence and friendships with other young carers who understand the issues they face. All our workshops are run by professional artists, ensuring that our participants work with the most inspiring, skilled, creative people.

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