Creativity Works: it really doesCreativity is vital to the process of change and growth. It is fundamental to being alive and to finding and constituting meaning in life. Creativity is a quality that can be nurtured or repressed and it is through creative actions that we make sense of the word around us.

The Creative Process

• Curiosity and interest are engaged and attention focused• Materials are transformed and something new is made – acting as a

metaphor for change• Learning, expression, sharing, communication and celebration take

place • Heightened awareness leads to experience being enriched • Transferable skills are learned such as R&D, problem solving and

communication

Creativity WorksParticipants affirm that Creativity Works for them:

“It means everything to me really… I feel my confidence and self esteem are better. At the end

of the day I feel like I’m getting somewhere”

“You have changed my life. Thank you.”

Creativity Works Project: Arts Council Funding

The Creativity Works project used the arts to consult|engage|involve|empower.

• It focused on children and young people, 0 to 25 years old, their families and communities. • It worked with a number of different groups of young people, young carers, looked after children, young

people at risk of self harm, families from disadvantaged communities and affected by domestic violence.• The project promoted creative play, creative expression and creative community development as a tool to

transform lives empowering personal and social change. • Creativity Works included arts projects that linked in with families and communities as well as involving

young people in designing and developing projects that they themselves had identified as important to them.

Young Carers ProjectPartners: Off the Record

Young carers face particular hardships due to their caring roles• They may care for a parent, sibling or grandparent with a physical

disability or illness, mental health issue, learning disability or drug or alcohol addiction

• This can mean they have to help with practical chores, helping with medical needs, financial responsibilities or emotional support.

• These responsibilities mean young carers have less time to play and relax and lack the opportunities to explore their creativity

• Young carers can miss a lot of school due to their caring role which means they don’t always achieve as much as other children and young people of their age

Sonia Hutchison, Off The Record

Young people explored their creativity through:

digital photography, painting, willow weaving,

stone carving, clay modeling, & charcoal

“The projects enabled young carers to explore the things in their lives that are important to them, sometimes this has been focused on their caring role and sometimes it has been an opportunity to have a break from their caring role.”

Participants were able to develop and showcase their work in a variety of ways

• Steering group of young people

• 3 Publications– Water Memories Making

History– Our Side of the Story– Creativity |WORKS

• Family Open Day• Provide training for Social

Work students at the University of Bath

• Creativity Works Conference• art|effects Exhibition [ Bath

Fringe Festival]

Creativity Works: art|effects

“The young carers learnt new skills and tried creative methods they have

never had an opportunity to try before. They have had the opportunity to

document their creative endeavours through art books and by being

published in Water Memories, Our Side of the Story and creativity |

WORKS.

This has added to the impact of using creative methods as it has given

them something they can put on their CV to support them in the future

and supporting them to reach another one of the Every Child Matters

priorities to Achieve Economic Well Being.”

Sonia Hutchison, Off The Record

Creativity Works

The group developed their own individual personal stories and shared these with others.

Links with University of Bath Social Policy and Social Work Students has introduced the concept of shared learning through service users to inform service providers and provision.

Numbers:– Steering group 12 young people– 16 Participants directly engaged additional to above – 2 Artists– 5 Off the Record Support Workers gaining skills transfer– Voluntary staff workers + 4 Social work accredited students gaining skills

transfer– 20 Addition Social work/policy students– Total by project end: 79 + Audience estimates 300

Creativity WorksOff The Record Young Carers Legacy Creativity|WORKS • A new steering group has been formed at Off the Record supported

by the work of Sonia Hutchison. The facilitated group are developing projects that they want to pursue and develop funding packages and applications.

• A new University and social work student learning programme has been developed and is progressing the action research model adopted and integrated within the Social Work Degree qualification.

• Regular Young Carers arts activities steering group and consultative sessions are now running.

• The work has been showcased and additional workshops delivered at Family days in Keynsham and at creative development days at University of Bath.

Creativity Works

Creativity Works has a strong commitment to working with artists to support their development and explore their relationship with culture and social change.

Creativity Works aims to work with artists who see social engagement as a key element in their work and who bring a particular way of working to community projects:– facilitative and empowering– Responsive and flexible