Create Arts

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF) supported Create Arts through an award of £50,000 in November 2020 to fund the inspired:arts programme which aims to help disadvantaged young carers, connect them with one another and with their own creativity. The workshops are run by professional artists, and focus on self-expression through art.

A series of online workshops, Create Live! was launched in March 2020. Since then, inspired:arts has engaged 672 young carers online. In-person provision has now resumed, with workshops taking place during the October half term. In Lambeth, 11 young carers took part in a three day spoken word and poetry workshop, which culminated in a ‘sharing’ of their work.

Jenny, a beneficiary of a Create Arts project, said “I can come into the start of the session sometimes feeling quite low, but step out of it feeling boosted and exhilarated, as if I’ve travelled to far-flung place.”

Create Art works largely with people under the age of 18. 48.5% of participants are eligible for free school meals, and 49.8% are from an ethnically diverse background. Create Art focuses its work on areas of deprivation which often receive less attention from other organisations. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to move to virtual service provision and reach even more people.

The inspired:arts project enabled young carers to build long-term friendships, enhance social skills, reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and build self-confidence. They increased creativity and artistic skill, and inspired many to engage in further creative activities.

To find out more about Create Art, visit their website here.