Drama helps carers explore their identity
Creative arts charity Create has been working with young carers in Merton to explore diversity within their community through drama.
Last year, Create encouraged young carers at Carers Support Merton to explore their identity and ask themselves, "Who am I?" This time around, they ask, "Who are we?" as they write and perform their own drama piece to illustrate their thoughts.
Thanks to funding from The Queen's Trust, the young people have been working together to explore what it means to be part of a rich and diverse community.
They have been guided by Create's professional drama artist Olly Hawes, who has worked as a theatre director at the National Theatre and the Young Vic.
The young carers, which include people from Wimbledon, have also been sharing their newly-learned drama skills with a younger group of carers from Merton and collaborating to create a new work.
Create says over two-thirds of young carers suffer bullying and isolation as a result of their caring responsibilities. Through inspired:arts, Create says it enables them to feel part of a community, socialising and forming relationships with other young people who may have similar experiences at home.
At a recent inspired:arts workshop a young carer said: "It's nice being around adults and staff members that understand my situation. It's a totally different environment from home because I get to have fun away from my role as a carer. And working with other young carers who know what it’s like to have siblings with disabilities is really encouraging."
Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Create, Nicky Goulder, commented: "In Create's previous projects with young carers in Merton, I have been moved by the warmth and compassion that coloured the carers’ relationships."
August 7, 2015