Tag: harrow

Dharmesh, an adult carer from harrow

Posted on December 20, 2023 by - 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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Harrow students changing minds about disability through creative arts

Posted on July 17, 2023 by - News

changing:minds Harrow artwork

Harrow students changing minds about disability through creative arts

Create’s multi-artform Showcase by students in Harrow challenged preconceptions about children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The event at Harrow Arts Centre on Tuesday 20 June showcased artwork and performances from the changing:minds project designed and run by Create.

Five SEND (special educational needs and disability) schools and units came together for this unique event which brought together students ranging from 5 to 19 years old at primary and secondary schools. The students showcased and performed works in five different artforms – animation, ceramics, drama, music and painting – all on the theme of “Harrow: My Local Community”.

Launched in 2019, changing:minds uses visual and performing arts to enable children at all five SEND schools/units in the London Borough of Harrow to develop new skills, new relationships and enhanced confidence. The project gives disabled children the opportunity to explore their creativity in high-quality workshops led by Create’s professional artists.

why does it matter?

Disabled people remain significantly less likely to participate in cultural, leisure and sporting activities than non-disabled people. According to Scope, 24% of disabled people have experienced attitudes or behaviours where other people expected less of them because of their disability.

The title changing:minds was deliberately chosen for this programme to reflect the challenges faced by disabled people and perceptions of their capabilities. By presenting their creative work at an annual Showcase at Harrow Arts Centre, it aims to change perceptions around disability within families and the wider community.

what have people said about the projecT?

Concert pianist and Create Patron Nicholas McCarthy has said: “It was truly amazing to see the scale of talent of the children involved, their imaginations and their engagement in the workshop. For me as a Patron of this charity [this project] confirmed to me the need for people to have creative outlets at all stages of life, especially when we collectively face the difficulties that we have all faced of late.”

A parent who attended a previous Showcase said: “I thought the Showcase was marvellous. I believe children gain so much from art and drama. It should be accessible to all, especially to SEN children. This was so inspiring.”

Create’s Founding Chief Executive, Nicky Goulder, commented: “This event is a wonderful celebration of the local community and of the talents of the students involved. No one should be denied access to the creative arts. Creativity allows us to think differently, to express ourselves, and to be heard. This Showcase is a reminder that the life-enriching power of the creative arts is for everyone.”

changing:minds is funded by John Lyon’s Charity with support from Harrow Music Service.

Meet Cindy, an adult carer from Harrow

Posted on January 25, 2023 by - Stories

creative:voices ceramics harrow

Meet Cindy, an adult carer from Harrow

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.

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.

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLCHILDREN IN HARROW UNITE FOR INSPIRING MUSIC SHOWCASE

Posted on October 11, 2022 by - Blogs

environment matters harrow SEND showcase

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLCHILDREN IN HARROW UNITE FOR INSPIRING MUSIC SHOWCASE

environment matters harrow SEND showcase
SEND environment:matters participants perform a song they composed about the environment

On Wednesday 21 September, our environment:matters project in Harrow culminated in an inspiring musical showcase at Harrow Arts Centre.

Children from three special schools performed original pieces of music, composed and written alongside Create’s professional musicians during a project funded by The Atherton Family Charitable Trust.

environment:matters is our project providing SEND children in London and Manchester with access to high-quality, collaborative creative arts workshops exploring the theme of “the environment”. The project uses music and other artforms to help participants understand the climate crisis, how their own actions might affect the environment, and how they can help bring about change.

“i LEARNT THAT WE SHOULD RECYCLE!”

PARTICIPANT

the power of music

This latest strand of the project took place in Harrow, with students from Alexandra School, Shaftesbury High School and Woodlands School teaming up with professional musicians Paul Griffiths, Mike Poyser and Filipe Sousa. Under expert guidance, the children wrote original songs about the environment, which they performed in a showcase at Harrow Arts Centre.

Simon Lewis, Performing Arts Lead at Shaftesbury High School, shares why creativity for children with SEN is so important.

One participant (12) from Shaftesbury High School, said: “The project made me feel happy. I enjoyed the instruments, and that everyone was in beat with the music. The environmental theme was amazing. I learnt that we should not be using plastic, and that we should recycle.” 

Another participant from Alexandra School enjoyed the environmental theme too, and said: “We sang about swimming in the sea. I love the ocean. Paul [Griffiths] is such a good music maker and singer. I liked writing music. Singing makes me a little bit nervous but I feel happy!”

environment matters harrow SEND showcase
Create artist Paul Griffiths performing with environment:matters participants in Harrow

Many proud parents attended the final showcase, eager to see what their children had created. One mother said: “My daughter is taking part in the Create project today and I’m excited to see her perform. She loves being creative, she loves art, she loves music. Creativity helps her to imagine and it takes her to a different world, away from the pressure.”

Why is this project important?

The climate emergency affects us all, and everyone deserves to have a voice on this important topic. environment:matters ensures that SEND young people can learn about and discuss environmental issues, expressing their opinions through the creative arts.

A 2020 UNHCR General Assembly concluded that “Economically, institutionally and socially marginalised people are less resilient in the face of the adverse effects of climate change. This particularly applies to an estimated one billion persons with disabilities worldwide. They often have the least capacity to adapt to climate change, while being virtually ignored in preparation and response measures.”

SEND environment:matters participants perform a song they composed about the environment

Simon Lewis, Performing Arts Teacher at Shaftesbury High School, said: “It’s really important to inform and empower young people with special educational needs about the real issues they face as human beings in today’s world. This project has got all of our students, regardless of their levels or abilities, to think more consciously about the decisions they make and the footprint they leave.”

“This project has made our students think more consciously about the footprint they leave.”

simon lewis, community Partner

Nicky Goulder, Create Founding CEO, said: “It has been incredible to watch our inspiring participants go from strength to strength during this environment:matters project in Harrow. They have made great strides in their musical skill, confidence and awareness of environmental issues. Most importantly, though, the beaming smiles on their faces say it all. A huge congratulations to our amazing participants for putting on a spectacular show. And thank you to The Atherton Family Charitable Trust for making this vital project possible.”

SEND environment matters performance harrow

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