Tag: manchester

MEET NAZANIN, AN ADULT CARER FROM MANCHESTER

MEET NAZANIN, AN ADULT CARER FROM MANCHESTER

creative:voices is Create’s multi artform programme with adult carers, giving them respite from their caring role and a chance to meet new people, build new skills and be creative.

For six weeks during September and October 2024, Create artist Rebecca May led a ceramics project with carers at Manchester Carers Forum.

We spoke to adult carer Nazanin about her experience on the project.

NAZANIN’S STORY

“I’ve got three kids. Two of my sons are diagnosed with autism and my daughter has recently been diagnosed with ARFID (Avoidant Resistive Food Intake Disorder). She is on the waiting list for CAMHS assessment for autism as well. I care for their needs, giving them safe environment where they can be [themselves] rather than having to mask.

CARING FOR THEM HAS CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE. i’VE LOST MY FREEDOM.

When you have a child, you lose your freedom, but when you have a child who is neurodiverse, the level of freedom that you lose is even higher because you can’t get a babysitter without worrying [if] their needs [are] going to be met.

It has sometimes made me feel a bit more trapped. A couple of years ago I had to quit my job because it was just burning me out too much. I can’t work, even though I want to, because mentally I can’t concentrate on work and on their needs. And you can’t have a night off. I can get quite overwhelmed, and no matter what I do, I feel burnt out.”

MAKING TIME FOR NEW EXPERIENCES

“I really enjoyed the project. I loved working with jesmonite, because I’ve never come across it before. I love learning new things, so being exposed to a new material that is quick and easy was the best thing for me. It has completely blown my mind, because I never knew it existed. I’ve created lots of trinkets for me and my kids. I’m really happy with what I’ve made. I’m just thinking now in my head about where I can put them in the house.

We ended up with a good group [on the project]. I’ve enjoyed it because everyone is in a similar situation, as we’re all carers, so there’s a level of understanding. It’s nice to share ideas and see everyone’s different points of view and how they interpret what they’ve made. I’ve really enjoyed that.”

CRAFTING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

“I used to do lots of crafts in my younger years, but not so much as an adult because I’m always rushing around thinking about what needs to be done around the house. It was so nice to slow down and do something for myself. Crafting for me is my happy place. I think I feel a lot more relaxed knowing I’m going to dedicate time to [crafting]. I’ve really enjoyed it!

It has definitely benefited [my mental health]. Especially at this time of year, when everything gets a bit depressing, it has got me out of the house. It’s definitely had a positive effect. And I’m a stressor naturally. I’m someone who doesn’t slow down, even though I’ve been told I need to for my health. Being forced to slow down helps.

DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS REALLY HELPED ME FOCUS ON MYSELF.

I think when you’re a carer, you get so focused on the person you’re caring about, you then forget yourself. These kinds of projects help you move away from being in the house and constantly caring. You can actually focus on your own mental health. I think we need more of these kinds of projects.”

creative:voices was funded by The Smile Fund, awarding funds from Comic Relief and Walkers.

DISABLED AND NON-DISABLED CHILDREN CREATE CONNECTIONS THROUGH MUSIC

DISABLED AND NON-DISABLED CHILDREN CREATE CONNECTIONS THROUGH MUSIC

creative:connection is our award-winning project that tackles disability prejudice by bringing disabled and non-disabled young people together through creativity. After four days of writing and composing original songs and music under the guidance of four professional Create musicians, 57 students from four Manchester and Salford schools performed at Manchester Central Library to an in-venue audience of 110 families, friends, students from two visiting schools and Create and school staff and a remote Zoom audience at Manchester Literature Festival 2023. Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of the City of Manchester, also popped in.

Students from four schools worked collaboratively with Create’s musicians to compose pieces inspired by the festival’s theme ‘Speak Up!’, celebrating the power we all have when we find our voice and speak up about the things that matter. Each group created their own music as well as working towards a group song, incorporating all four schools. Create musicians used the participants’ ideas to formulate a chorus that was learned by all students and accompanied by sign-along actions. Led by Create musicians Matt Dunn, Holly Marland, Mike Poyser and Bethan Roberts, creative:connection is now in its eighth year.

MEET NATHAN: “I don’t call them disabilities, I call them superpowers!”

Nathan, a student from New Park Academy, said “This is my second year taking part in the project. Normally I focus on my [physical] health, but [projects] like this are good for my mental health. It’s important to have the chance to do things like this because if you’re going through a tough time, then you have people there to cheer you up.

“During the project I learnt that music can be about anything. I also learnt not to judge a book by its cover. People can be different but they’re still nice. My opinion of people with disabilities has changed because of this project. I’d never think a bad thing about a disabled person but I did think they might be difficult to work with. Working with students from Chatsworth has been great.

“I don’t like calling them disabilities, I call them superpowers. I have ADHD and autism and I don’t let that stop me.”

MEET LUCIAN: “I made new friends who supported my ideas”

Reflecting after a week of rehearsals, a student from special school Chatsworth High School said “Doing something creative felt amazing. I enjoyed it last year as well.

“We’ve been using music to “Speak Up”, which is when you speak up about how you feel, whether you’re angry, lonely, sad, happy or hungry. I played keyboard and drums. It’s really good working with everyone because we got to write lyrics with different groups. I wrote this lyric: “don’t touch the fireworks or you will burn”, that’s good isn’t it? I made new friends with the New Park students and they supported my lyric ideas. I’d feel amazing if loads of people came to watch us perform because everyone is supporting us. People are going to be clapping for us. I can’t wait.”

Create’s Founding CEO Nicky Goulder said: “This project is a celebration of the amazing ability of the creative arts to build connections and challenge preconceptions.

“People need to create. Creativity impacts our wellbeing, emotional and mental health. It builds skills, brings joy and reduces isolation. It enables us to learn about ourselves and others in new ways.

“Arts activities have been shown to improve disabled children’s social skills, sensory perception, emotional regulation and more. But disabled people’s access to such activities is often limited due to lack of opportunity, inaccessible provision, or cost.

“That’s why we are committed to providing free, high-quality creative arts experiences for those who need them most. creative:connection brings disabled and non-disabled children together to build skills, relationships and understanding through the experience of collaborative creativity.”

The creative:connection Manchester and Salford Showcase was featured on BBC Radio Manchester. You can listen to first-hand accounts from our project participants below.

The afternoon was a collective celebration of the transformative power of the arts, with some remarkable talent on display.

Thank you to our partners at Manchester Central Library, Manchester Literature Festival, and to The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, The Tana Trust and an anonymous donor for supporting creative:connection Manchester and Salford.

Meet Elise, an environment:matters Participant

environment matters pioneer house

Meet Elise: “I’ve learnt a lot about recyclable materials”

environment:matters is our project providing SEND children with access to high-quality, interactive, collaborative creative arts workshops exploring the theme of “the environment”.

During November and December 2022, SEND participants in Manchester took part in our eight-day sculpture project with Create professional visual artist, Renata Minoldo. During the project, they created sculptures made from recyclable materials and decorated them with natural dyes sourced from flowers.

We spoke to Elise (15) about her experience on the project.

“My name is Elise and I’m 15 years old. We have been doing this [Create] art project for the past two weeks. We have created sculptures out of plastic water bottles, and we’ve put bird seed into it which has turned it into a bird feeder. We also crushed up flowers using hammers and other tools so we could use it as paint. It went onto the fabric which made [the fabric] look more fun.

“I thought the theme of the environment was really nice and I’m glad we did it because the environment is very important. I’ve learnt a lot about recyclable materials, and I’ve learnt there’s different types of sculpture and you can use different materials to make them. I’ve enjoyed making the sculptures. In art class we usually just do drawing so this was very different and very cool. It made me feel very happy and very good that I got to take part in this [project], it’s very fun.

“In art class we usually just do drawing so this was very different and very cool.”

Elise, environment:matters participant

“Working with Renata has been really nice. She’s a very nice person and I enjoyed working with her. Before the project, we did some research and some drawing, sketches and designs based on work from Renata and other artists.

“Working with and making artwork with the group was very fun. We all got along and had fun while doing it. I’m looking forward to our exhibition.”

This project was supported by Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO.