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RADIO DRAMA HELPS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES

Posted on July 24, 2024 by communications - Stories

RADIO DRAMA HELPS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES

changing:minds is Create’s multi-artform project for pupils with special educational needs (SEND) in Harrow. The project is designed to give the children and their teachers access to the benefits of high-quality creative arts activities.

For six weeks between April and June 2024, Create artist James Baldwin delivered radio drama workshops at Shaftesbury High School (SHS).

We spoke to Elisa, a teacher at SHS, about the main benefits of changing:minds for the participants, and the longer-term legacy of Create’s work at the school.

“My group of students has been taking part in a radio drama project for the last few weeks. Our theme has been around diversity and being different. First, the children took part in drama activities, which helped them to bond as a group and get comfortable with each other. Then they created characters that explore and celebrate being different. They created a really colourful and beautiful collage, but also a radio drama using their recorded voices.

The project has helped their wellbeing because it has given them space to make themselves vulnerable and open up.

“Having that space to make yourself vulnerable, but feel confident at the same time is really important.”

WHAT SKILLS DID THE YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP?

“It’s helped with their social skills. They’ve definitely bonded more as a group. They feel comfortable enough to laugh with each other.

“For our students, it’s quite difficult to have new people to come in and work with them. So, the fact they’ve been attentive and have followed instructions, and felt comfortable with you, has been really beneficial. It’s a very positive thing that they were engaged and willing to take part, and that they were all in a space where they [were] ready to learn and focus.

And then the confidence they found when speaking and the power in their voice has been such a positive takeaway.

“They were really confident when they recorded their [radio drama] piece towards the end of the project. It’s hard to like the sound of your own voice, but watching them today, I think they were all pleased with it. There wasn’t any silliness or anyone saying ‘you sound silly’. It was just really positive. It’s the little things like that, that really matter. That’s why this project is so important and very beneficial.”

the benefits of creativity

It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted.

“They have enjoyed being creative because it’s not structured. They’ve produced everything themselves. It’s their own ideas, it’s their own expression, it’s their own thought process.

“I can think of a thousand things to say as to [why it’s important to be creative]. I’m really passionate about creative arts for young people and particularly for young people with SEND.

“It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted. And I think that’s what this project has been all about and that’s why it’s so important.”

HOW CHANGING:MINDS HAS BENEFITED SHAFTESBURY HIGH SCHOOL

“I would say that [Create] are vital to our school. It’s a wonderful project and we’re so lucky to have access to what you do and the different variety of what’s on offer within creative arts. And to work with professionals. You’re so skilled and in tune with SEND children and you know exactly where and how to pitch everything. It’s so niche, but you really know how to do what you do and it’s been fantastic. It would be very sad not to have you come in and work with us every year. It truly is a huge, huge benefit to our school.

“I loved some of the drama games and I’ve actually stolen a few of those [for my own teaching], because they were really good. And they really resonated with the children because they were going on about it all week. It made an impression.

“[changing:minds has] given them access to things they wouldn’t normally do. That’s what’s really good. That’s key.”

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF CHANGING:MINDS?

“I think the legacy [of the project] is the impact. You’ve just got to look at the children and what they’ve produced week on week and how they’ve built on knowledge and skills and I think that’s it right there, to be honest.”

changing:minds was funded by John Lyon’s Charity.

DISABLED AND NON-DISABLED CHILDREN CREATE CONNECTIONS THROUGH MUSIC

Posted on October 31, 2023 by nikita - News

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.

Harrow students changing minds about disability through creative arts

Posted on July 17, 2023 by nikita - News

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 Elise, an environment:matters Participant

Posted on January 30, 2023 by nikita - Stories

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.

*environment:matters* artwork at the project exhibition

“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.