Tag: adult carer

Meet ADULT CARERS Elizabeth and sue, CREATIVE:VOICES PARTICIPANTS

Posted on February 28, 2024 by communications - Stories, Blogs

MEET ADULT CARERS Elizabeth and sue, CREATIVE:VOICES PARTICIPANTS

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.

For seven weeks between October and December 2023, carers from Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre took part in a visual arts project with Create’s professional artist Lizzie Chapman.

Elizabeth and Sue shared their experiences with us.

Elizabeth’s story

“I’ve got an 11-year-old son who was born with multiple disabilities, so I’ve been caring for the last 11 years. I had to give up my job as he got older because I couldn’t manage all the appointments, being up all night and doing a full-time job.

“I’ve enjoyed coming to the project because it’s nice having somewhere you can go.

It gives me a sense of purpose. It’s nice to have something that gives a sense of achievement. You’ve got something that you’ve finished and you can take home and show people what you’ve achieved.
ELIZABETH

trying something new

“It’s nice to have different things to try as well. Mosaics and lino printing are something I never would have tried on my own. I enjoyed having different opportunities. There are barriers that stop me from being creative, like the time and money. It’s very expensive. Particularly if you’re on a pension or you’ve had to give up your work. The Carer’s Allowance is next to nothing, so affording to do things that are for you is not really a priority. I have really tried to engage with all the different Create project and found that I liked things that I didn’t think I would like.

“One of the projects I’ve made is actually for my son’s bedroom. I showed him a picture of it and he seemed really proud of it and he liked it. And he said he could recognise what it was so that’s encouraging.

“I would like to use what I’ve learnt here in the future with my son too. Particularly I think mosaics are quite good as they weren’t too difficult. And the lino printing is quite satisfying.”

socialising through arts

“I think it’s important because it gets people together [who] wouldn’t necessarily have opportunities to meet. It goes across class, gender, age. I’m not particularly sociable. I don’t have any family, so it’s just us on our own. I think I’ve learnt that I can maybe be a bit more sociable. I think I need people and connection a bit more than I think I do. It does do you good.

“I’m not always very confident, but I think I have got more confident as the [project] has gone on and I’ve been able to speak up appropriately if I felt I needed to.”

SUE’S STORY

“I’m Susan and I used to care for my son who had young onset Alzheimer’s. But he passed away. I’m also the next-of-kin to my sister who I think has got autism. She’s 81.

“It’s lovely coming here. It’s absorbing to make the things. It’s nice to be able to chat and meet new people. And it doesn’t matter if you’re fed up or anything because everybody will understand. It’s been very important and I’ve made friends.”

I think engagement with the creative arts is valuable. It really does help.
sUE

“Sue finds solace and respite in the project. The creative process allows her to escape temporarily from all that is going on in her life and find comfort in the supportive environment.

“Because you just literally forget for a few hours: usually you’re so concentrated on what you’re doing, your mind is too full for anything else.”

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

Meet LIA, FINDING CONFIDENCE THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING

Posted on January 30, 2024 by communications - Stories, Blogs

MEET LIA, FINDING CONFIDENCE THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING

81% of unpaid carers experience loneliness and feel isolated through their caring responsibilities.

In the heart of National Storytelling Week, we delve into Lia’s journey through creative:voices our multi-artform project with adult carers. We designed this to alleviate feelings of isolation and enhance wellbeing, enriching carers’ sense of belonging in their community and increasing their confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Lia has taken part in several of our creative:voices projects. We talked to her about her creative writing experience.

Lia’s Story

“I found caring rewarding but it’s sometimes very draining. But it’s something I wanted to do to give back to my parents because they sacrificed so much for us. So, I looked after them. And I enjoyed looking after them. I miss looking after them. I’m caring for my brother at the moment because he’s suffering from depression, unfortunately.”

As Lia reflected on her caring journey, it became evident that the selflessness she shows comes with its challenges, loneliness being one of them.

“Being a carer makes you feel isolated. The focus is on your loved ones, so it’s rewarding to do something for yourself. “

THE BENEFITS OF CREATIVE WRITING

“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.”

creative:voices provided Lia with a platform to express herself and explore her creativity through writing. While it wasn’t easy at first to put her emotions and her mother’s journey into words, Lia’s determination and the support of the project helped her overcome the initial difficulties. Through this creative outlet, she found a way to rebuild her confidence.

“The creative writing was quite difficult. I wanted to talk about my mum and her journey. That’s what I hoped to do. How she came from Italy on a boat, not knowing English. She was quite poor. That’s what I was trying to do in the creative writing. It was quite hard at first to be honest. I thought ‘I can’t do this. I can’t speak in front of everybody! I can’t express myself! How can I write down on paper my feelings?”

Lia’s determination and the support she received on the project played a key role in her personal growth.

“But [the project has] definitely helped me to build my confidence. I’ve changed from when I first come in in March. My confidence had been knocked basically. It helped me build my confidence to be able express myself on paper and hopefully it will continue.”

Creative writing has had benefits beyond boosting Lia’s confidence, helping her to process and express complex emotions, and contribute to improved mental wellbeing.

DOING SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF

“I’ve enjoyed doing things for myself, which I haven’t done for a very long time.”

“Life is short, you’ve got to make the most of it, and I have 20 years left, so I just want to grow and find myself. Find my purpose. Because I’ve lost that. So doing these things has helped me to find my purpose again. It’s helped me grow. I nearly cried there, I’m getting emotional.”

“Hopefully it’s like a stepping stone for my next chapter and my journey will continue into doing volunteering or maybe other things that I’d like to do. “

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

“I’m a quiet person. I’m shy, but I’m trying to do things that overcome that. I’m helping myself by pushing my boundaries. I’m trying to work on myself.”

“I feel more open [now]. I mean I wouldn’t have been able to talk to you a few months back. I suppose I was very nervous about talking to people. I just felt ‘I can’t approach people, I can’t talk to them. What have I got to say? What of interest have I got to say to people that they would want to talk to me?’ It’s a self-esteem thing. I think [the project has] boosted my self-esteem. My confidence has grown and I’ve enjoyed being creative.”

“It’s a lovely group as well. I’ve really enjoyed working with other people. I’ve enjoyed talking to them. I think I have spoken to everyone. It’s a lovely bunch of people. They’re really friendly and very approachable. I can relate to their situations because I was a carer and I am still a carer.”

“Caring is isolating, because you can’t always go out to do these things. But I’m so glad I did.”

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

Dharmesh, an adult carer from harrow

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Zekia Salmon-Hall - Stories

MEET DHARMESH: AN ADULT CARER FROM HARROW

Dharmesh, a 56-year-old GP, who took part in creative:voices Harrow, our multi-artform programme that enables adult carers to take a creative break from their caring responsibilities, build trusting relationships with their peers, develop skills, and boost their confidence and wellbeing.

Dharmesh opened up about his experience as an adult caregiver for his mother, who was recently diagnosed with early onset dementia.

He shares that each day brings its own set of unique circumstances. “There is not a typical day I have to say and in some ways that’s a blessing and in other ways it’s frightening.”

THE IMPACT OF CARING IN THE UK

One in eight adults in the UK is a carer (Carers UK). The impact of caring goes beyond a commitment of time and energy and many carers experience social isolation and a negative impact on their physical and emotional health. Many are unable to take a break from their caring responsibilities and 42% say that their personal relationships, social lives and leisure time have been restricted.

Create’s projects gives adult carers the opportunity to explore their creativity and self-expression in high quality creative arts workshops led by our professional artists.

DHARMESH’S JOURNEY WITH CREATE

During his journey with Create and navigating becoming an adult caregiver, Dharmesh has discovered the importance of creativity and how it has become a true blessing in his life. Over the past few months, the creative arts workshops have provided him with a much-needed outlet and have become an integral part of his weekly routine.

“I have since realised that creativity gives me so much more and allows me to give so much more as well we go away refreshed rejuvenated with energy and enthusiasm to do our caring.”
DHARMESH, ADULT CARER

For Dharmesh, creativity serves as more than just an escape from the responsibilities of caregiving. Having spent much of his life solely focused on hard work and traditional achievements. “It’s something I do for myself. I give to other people not always been that good at giving to myself. I went through a lot of my life thinking that this was a waste of time because the way I had been brought up was that I just had to work really hard and the achievements had to be either financial or in terms of professional status.” Engaging in creativity not only provides a break from the demands of caregiving but also allows him to give more of himself to both his loved ones and the world. It leaves him revitalized, energised and enthusiasm to face his responsibilities.

REDISCOVERING ROOTS THROUGH CREATIVITY

Creativity has allowed Dharmesh to reminisce on his upbringing in Kenya. “I was born in Kenya grew up in an extended family there was always music and laughter.” He learned the importance to belong to families, communities, and neighbourhoods and sees that Collaborating and engaging in various forms of creativity reinstalls these values. “We are such beautiful unique beings with such imagination and colours and love.”

watch dharmesh’s story

Watch the film to learn more about Dharmesh’s story.

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

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VOICES FROM ADULT CARERS AT CREATIVE:VOICES EXHIBITION

Posted on June 26, 2023 by nikita - News

VOICES FROM ADULT CARERS AT CREATIVE:VOICES EXHIBITION

An exhibition celebrating the artwork of adult carers in Edinburgh and Glasgow took place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 June 2023, with a private view on Thursday evening. Displaying a variety of dynamic photography, the artwork was developed in a programme of online photography workshops as part of Create’s creative:voices project, empowering adult carers through the creative arts.

creative voices edinburgh glasgow exhibition

In attendance were participants, staff from Care for Carers Edinburgh and Glasgow East End Community Carers, and friends and family. Separated by a screen for two years, the private view, which took place on the evening of 15 June, was truly a special occasion. Carers who had worked together online throughout lockdown were able to meet and celebrate each other’s artwork.

during the project, his self-esteem lifted, he was going into the garden for the first time and his communication improved.
support worker of create participant

Family and friends

Shirley*, a creative:voices photography participant, said “The project inspired me to go off on my own for a walk after dinner on a really lovely still night. There was an amazing sunset and I was just playing around with composition and trying to remember what I’ve been taught. These photos were the result of that. Seeing my work hung professionally is great. My friend has been dragging people in and telling everyone who the photographer is!”

Shirley sunset phototography — creative:voices participant Shirley’s sunset photography

Adult carer and Create participant Susie* (read her story here) enjoyed Create’s photography project so much so that she took part twice. Susie was unable to attend the private view, so she sent her husband along instead. He spoke to us about the impact of the project on their family.

“During the pandemic Susie was able to join online projects and learn photography. Today I’m at the photography exhibition so I can see this new part of her. The pictures look so professional and she’s blown me away with the quality of the work she’s generated. It’s so artistic. They’re all beautiful colours; oranges and yellows, bright cheerful colours. I know Susie got a chance to look at the exhibition yesterday and she came out tearful. I’m very proud of her.

Susie's husband taking photos of her artwork — Susie’s husband taking photos of her artwork

I do not believe we would have the life together that we have if it wasn’t for the support of organisations like yours.
husband of adult carer susie

“Susie having a break is a reset for us both. I would never stop her doing any of the projects because we all benefit from it. I’d like to thank these organisations for supporting her, they really make a difference to our lives. I do not believe we would have the life together that we have if it wasn’t for the support of organisations like yours.”

“They’ve said that after the exhibition the artwork can be returned to the artists. Hopefully I’ll receive them before Susie comes back from her vacation and I can mount them on the wall. Whenever there’s a tough day she can look at them and remember what she has achieved.”

A photograph taken by adult carer Susie on Create's creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow project — A photograph taken by adult carer Susie on Create’s creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow project

The evening was full of touching stories. One came from a support worker who has been working closely with an adult carer and her husband who has brain damage:

“The wife couldn’t leave her husband. He had brain damage and was unable to leave the house. She wasn’t getting a break and felt their lives had become completely separate as they had nothing in common. It was going down a rocky road so she asked me what she could get involved in. Care For Carers told us about the online photography project they were running with Create. The couple ended up participating in the project together. To begin with, the husband was non-verbal but during the project, his self-esteem lifted, he was going into the garden for the first time and his communication improved. His wife attributed all of this to them taking part in the Create project together.”

Erica, a Co-ordinator at Care For Carers, shared why giving carers a voice through the creative arts is important. “In many ways, caring is quite an invisible thing. It’s something that people get on with and though it can be really rewarding, it can be really difficult too. Giving people the opportunity to express themselves, learn a new skill or talk to other people in similar situations is important. It might just be for an hour, but it’s an hour they can focus on themselves.”

Create Founding CEO Nicky said “It has been deeply moving to witness the depth of the relationships built online during lockdown, a time during which the lives of carers were made that much more difficult. The artwork on display at the creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow exhibition, and the stories that have been shared, are a testament to the impact creativity can have on an individual, and on society.”

*Names have been changed to protect anonymity.

creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow is supported by First Sentier Investors.

read susie’s story

HOW SUSIE BECAME A CARER OVERNIGHT

“For the last 14 years I’ve been caring. Me and my husband worked, we had our own business. Then, the accident happened. He had a heart attack stopping a crime and got a brain injury, and that’s where it all stopped. This is how I became a carer overnight.”

artwork gallery

Participant Shirley’s sunset photography

A photograph taken by adult carer Susie on Create’s creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow project

creative:voices participant Shirley’s sunset photography

Participant’s photography from zoom workshops

Photography from married couple who took part in the project together

creative:voices zoom workshop photography

How Susie became a carer overnight

Posted on June 26, 2023 by nikita - Stories

How susie became a carer overnight

Since 2021, adult carers from Edinburgh and Glasgow have come together for a series of online projects with Create – delivered via our Create Live! Zoom format – led by our professional artists in the artforms of photography, visual art and zine. Separated by 50 miles and a global pandemic, the partnership began during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing carers together during a time of extreme isolation to develop both creative skills and friendships through a screen.

In recent weeks, the group have taken part in a photography project under the guidance of Create photographer Alejandra Carles-Tolra. On Thursday 15 June, the participants were finally able to meet in person when they attended an exhibition celebrating their remarkable artwork. We spoke to Susie about her experiences and what she gained from our creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow project.

“[THE PROJECT] GIVES ME A BREAK FROM EVERYTHING ELSE I DO.”

Susie’s story

“I’m 48, so for the last 14 years I’ve been caring. Me and my husband worked, we had our own business. Then, the accident happened. He had a heart attack stopping a crime and got a brain injury, and that’s where it all stopped. This is how I became a carer overnight. I was also busy raising our daughter and keeping the house. There was no time for me to do anything. Now, our daughter is 16 and I feel that I’m still young enough to learn something. I would like to teach myself further. Photography is something that moves me, so I wonder, could I develop my skills more?

“I don’t normally have a chance to do creative things. Often when I’m out and about, I would take a second to capture a photo with my phone, but nothing like this project. As carers, we’re just so occupied, it’s non-stop.

“[The project has been] educational. It might give me a chance in the future to do something else with what I’ve learnt. I really enjoyed it. It gives me a break from everything else I do.

re-awakening creativity

“[At these workshops] I’ve discovered this creativity that I didn’t know existed until Alejandra started guiding me. She makes me think about this task only and nothing else, and that is great for me, to be able to take my mind off other things and just concentrate on the specific task.

“After taking part in the project, I can create my own artificial light and do things that I never thought I could. I’ve learnt we can create amazing art with simple things around the house. It’s been a process of, “I had no idea I could use that” and then I try it and it works!

It’s very good to see what other people have come up with, too. It’s encouraging and gives me more ideas. It has made me learn new things.

learning something new

“Photography is something that I always wanted to do as a hobby, and definitely something I’m interested in. This project is just giving me a fresh breath of air and opportunity to learn, create and actually be guided to do things: something as simple as using the camera on my own phone.

“I can use the skills that I’ve learnt to take a picture of a flower or bird. It makes me feel better and happier. Now I know how to use the colours or change my position so I can get better lighting. It makes me feel like I’ve learnt something. I think it’s important for us to make the time to educate ourselves.

I have learnt that I can do this. I have learnt that I’ve got more confidence, and I feel more empowered that I can do photography.

It was great to hear the other carers admiring my photos. It was just so pleasing to hear that someone actually likes what I did. One carer said “I could have this on my wall”. It’s nice to hear that from someone else.”

creative:voices Edinburgh and Glasgow is supported by First Sentier Investors.

Meet Renee, an adult carer from Islington

Posted on January 25, 2023 by nikita - Stories

Meet Renee, an adult carer from Islington

During September and October 2022, carers from Islington took part in six, weekly visual art workshops with our professional ceramic artist Liz Jackson.

Adult carer Renee (57) told us about her experiences.

“I have been caring for my mother for 15 years. Taking on caring responsibilities was hard because I wasn’t expecting it. I’d gone through a divorce and I’d just come home. Something happened to mum and she asked me to stay. I was self-employed but that job disappeared because I couldn’t travel up and down the country anymore.

“Mum’s doing really well, and I got her through COVID. I got COVID and she didn’t. I was so sick I thought I was going to die, so afterwards I thought: ‘I need to change the way I live.’ Now I live a short distance away [from mum] and my brothers do more to help, but I’m still the primary carer. It’s not easy.

Telling stories through art

“I have discovered that I love drawing. I now carry a little notebook with me.”
renee, adult carer

“This Create project was an opportunity to learn some new crafts. We did a range: drawing, painting, weaving and clay work. I had a lovely time. I have discovered that I love drawing, and I now carry a little notebook with me.

“I made a little feathery blue and white dreamcatcher which is now sitting in my bedroom. It’s so pretty, but it’s also a meaningful ornament. I think I need my artistry to have some sort of meaning or purpose and a dreamcatcher is a story. How did you make it? Who were you with? The story lives, in a way. I don’t have children. I think the need to create something that can outlast you is something fundamental to human nature. I like creating things from scratch.

learning to play again

“I loved the project. It’s nice meeting other carers, chatting to people and just having a little bit of time for yourself. I also loved having a chance to explore and play and do things I haven’t done since I was a kid. I was told by a teacher I couldn’t draw, so I always thought I couldn’t. I’ve certainly said to that teacher, “you were wrong! You shouldn’t be telling children that they can’t do stuff!” Why should I be good at something the first time I try it?

“Working with everyone was really good. It was a nice harmonious group. I enjoy having people to play with. It’s that simple. Playing is fun and you often don’t do it. Life can be so serious and the challenges of doing what I do and holding a job, it’s just so hard. Having somewhere where you can come and play with other people who want to play and who are having similar challenges to you is really nice.

“Following these workshops, I now meet with two people I met at [the Create project] once a month. We eat and have a cup of tea and we bring our crafts out. It doesn’t matter what it is, we’ll just bring what we like, or nothing. It’s like a knit and natter class but it’s for arts and crafters.

“We’re all in isolated little pockets”

“Working with Liz was great too. She’s absolutely lovely. The thing that I really liked about her is that she let me be the creator I wanted to be. When we did the weaving, people were using the string and the wool, and I wanted to use ribbon. She didn’t bat an eyelid. When people were making small clay pots and I made a big one, she didn’t bat an eyelid. She believes in the right of the artist to create their own work, and that’s very valuable.

“Sometimes you’re pushed in very rigid ways and you can learn a craft but you don’t own what you’ve learnt. By letting me play and create the way I wanted to, I didn’t just own the end result, I owned the process.

“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.

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

Meet Yvette, from our project with anthropologie

Posted on January 25, 2023 by nikita - Stories

Meet Yvette, from our project supported by anthropologie

creative:me is Create’s programme in partnership with Anthropologie. In November and December 2022, we ran projects inspired by Anthropologie’s Christmas theme of “sparkling joy”.

As part of creative:me, adult carers from Islington took part in six, weekly visual art workshops with our professional artist Rachel McGivern. The project aimed to ignite adult carers’ imaginations, offer them an escape from everyday life and a break from their responsibilities, and help them connect with others.

Adult carer Yvette told us about her experiences.

“I moved back to London for my elderly mum about eight years ago. She is 82 and although she hasn’t been diagnosed with dementia, she’s very forgetful and she just couldn’t look after herself. Particularly since the pandemic she’s taken quite a downturn in her capabilities and her confidence levels.

“She relies on me for quite a lot. She’s stopped driving, so I do all the driving. I do the cooking and the cleaning and I look after her. Before, I used to be able to go away for a night and she’d be able to heat herself up some soup, but I think that’s beyond her now. She becomes more dependent on me as we go along.

“My mum’s quite needy and if I wasn’t strict with my boundaries, she would take all of my time and energy. Making time for myself has been the biggest challenge: setting my boundaries and maintaining them. It’s one thing to set them, but to maintain them constantly is the daily challenge.

“It’s nice to have time that’s just mine”

“Taking on caring responsibilities has changed my lifestyle. I work from home, which I actually really enjoy. However, I’m an introvert. I like one-on-one [interaction] with my friends and I used to go out a lot more to meet with friends and do more social things. I only do that once every couple of weeks at the most for an afternoon or an evening now. I’m much more housebound. It’s changed my life massively.

“It’s really nice to have a bit of the week that’s just mine. [The project] is a really nice environment, it’s a little outing every week I look forward to. “We’ve been doing lino printing, which has been brilliant. I’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve been printing onto fabric and painting and making lavender eye bags out of some of that fabric. I’ve learnt that it’s a step by step thing and it’s really effective. I’ve done it before but it was so many moons ago.

“When you’re at school, you’re in the habit of doing weird and interesting things in your art class but when you’re older you forget to do new things. It’s good for the brain health. I like meeting people. I really like the facilitators, I think they’re all really lovely. They’re gentle and focused, and they’re really good at confidence building. I think the group format works really well too.

I’ve worked with Create before and I’ve got a little portfolio of stuff I’ve done. It gives me a sense of wellbeing and inspires me.”
Yvette, adult carer

“I get creatively stimulated”

“I am really pleased with the work I did on lino, I get a really strong sense of satisfaction. I’ve worked with Create before and I’ve got a little portfolio of stuff I’ve done and it’s really nice to look back over it. It gives me a sense of wellbeing and it inspires me. I get creatively stimulated, I find that I go home and I’m ticking over in a way that I wasn’t ticking over before, so it will just fire up ideas. I’ll go home with my weird print and then I’ll want to make it into Christmas cards or I’ll want to make gift tags out of it or something. This year was the first year I’ve made Christmas cards in about six years and I know that it’s partly to do with feeling inspired by Create.

“Projects like this help because they allow me to have that time that’s just about me. I come back refreshed and ready to go again. It’s a bit of a recharge, a reset. Just that little moment out of each week gives me time where I’m not thinking about mum’s food or the next meal or whether she’s got clean pyjamas. I’m not thinking about any of her needs. I’m just thinking about running stitch.”

creative:me Islington was supported by Anthropologie. You can learn more about our partnership here.

Meet Cindy, an adult carer from Harrow

Posted on January 25, 2023 by nikita - Stories

Meet Cindy, an adult carer from Harrow

During September and October 2022, carers from Harrow took part in six, weekly ceramics workshops with our professional artist Amy Leung.

Adult carer Cindy (61) told us about her experiences.

Adult carer Cindy and Create artist Amy Leung working with clay on our *creative:voices* Harrow ceramics project.

“My two younger children, a 20-year-old and a 15-year-old, are both on the autistic spectrum. My 15-year-old has severe learning development and my older child is autistic but he’s high functioning and savant. Both of them have poor social skills and find it very difficult, they don’t have friends because they’re different.

“My 20-year-old also has Type 1 diabetes and I micro-manage his condition for him. I had to give up work as a school nurse because my son’s school couldn’t cope with it. I don’t get much sleep. I’m up in the middle of the night checking his diabetes because he injects about six or seven times a day. I have to weigh all of his food and calculate his insulin, so it’s pretty exhausting but it’s what I have to do and they’re my kids. I love them and I enjoy doing it, even if I’m tired.

“Projects like this help carers to meet one another because we are isolated in what we do.”
cindy, adult carer

making creativity accessible

“Taking on caring responsibilities has changed my life immensely. We don’t have much money. I’ve gone from a good wage to a carer’s allowance. It’s very hard.

“Projects like this help [carers] to meet one another because we are isolated in what we do. We’re at home a lot of the time, and because we have very little money, some of us can’t go out and socialise. It costs a lot of money to take care of children who have disabilities. Therefore, projects like this one are perfect. If I’d had to pay for it I’d really have thought twice. When I found out the project was free, I was amazed.

“The project was ceramics. We used self-hardening clay, which is brilliant because you can see the results immediately and you get a real sense of achievement. I didn’t have much experience in ceramics before. I did a little bit with my kids when I was younger, but I’ve enjoyed this more because I’m doing it for myself.

emptying our stress buckets

“I’ve enjoyed the whole experience, especially being with other people and doing a project that doesn’t mean we’re talking about our loved ones that we care for all of the time, because that doesn’t define us as people. It’s been good just talking utter rubbish. We talk about art in general, as well.

“We’ve just come into Diwali so we’ve been talking about the celebration and enjoying each other’s differences. We made diva candleholders, and the Hindu women’s painting designs on theirs were beautiful.

“Everyone got on really well and we were all encouraging each other. When you’re a carer you don’t feel you get that recognition, but here we’re all patting each other on the back. The workshop leaders have been great, very patient, very encouraging, making us feel like we’re fantastic at what we’re doing, even though we doubt ourselves. As each week has gone on, we’ve all progressed and got more confidence. You’re so engrossed in what you’re making, you tend not to dwell on the negative aspects of your life as a carer. You’re having fun, you’re in a different place and I think that’s the main objective. The project has taught me that I need to do something at home when I get time so I’m not obsessing about things that are going on in my life, with my kids, and myself and my limitations. Rather, I can do stuff if I just put my mind to it. I think it’s very important to be creative because we are such stress buckets, and I think we just need to empty our mind sometimes. We all have that potential to be creative, everybody does, no matter what it is that you’re creating.”

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