This winter we have been working in Barry with a group of Ukrainians who have settled in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Our Creativity for Wellbeing project runs alongside the work of the local Refugee Support Team who focus on supporting people to access basic needs like food and accommodation. Our weekly sessions offer social and emotional support to the Ukrainian families and individuals, with creativity, art and relaxation as our focus. These creative sessions also give the Ukrainians an opportunity for them to meet others, to make new friends and share their experiences, and a safe space to express themselves creatively with no pressure.
In the sessions we introduce the idea of mindfulness and encourage participants to choose and explore different art forms, eg sculpture, printing, painting, creative writing, photography and filming. The participants come together in a safe environment and choose to work in silence, to chat or to discuss their different ideas. Each week they bring and share photos they have taken on their phones of their impressions of Wales. Three young women are working on a short film. During the holidays children join in and enjoy being creative with the support and attention of the group.
Participants are starting to bring friends to the group and different ideas for projects they would like to develop. The group is informal and relaxed and is a great way to help people to meet others, connect, practice their language skills, and to focus on their creativity and strengths.
During the project we have been listening to each other and sharing thoughts about life:
“ I think they expect me to be different and to look different, maybe less European and more foreign?”
“ Ukraine is a modern country with European values; we have free education and a free health system. Most Ukrainians are educated to a high standard.”
“ Of course we have problems like every other country but we have flexible ways of addressing the problems and we are very resourceful.”
“ It upsets me that when I watch the news, they only show images of the bad, the bombed places and the people suffering …”
“ I would hope for more balance, to show the strength of my people, the resistance, the support and how people come together to rebuild over and over, and most of all I would want everyone to understand about our spirit – how we managed to get up every morning and continue with our lives despite the war.”
Yules and Anastasia
Gallery
Participants are taking photos of their impressions of Wales and sharing them in the weekly sessions:
Children’s Stories
In the school holidays, children joined the group, wrote their own stories and painted pictures:
“Once upon the time Bubbles was playing in the grass having a lovely time, when a little creature arrived and ruined everything. Everyone and everything turned bad and people started fighting. Only the animals were good, especially the dogs. People had to go into hiding to find somewhere safe to stay and wait for the fighting to be over …”
(David 4 yrs old, Milana 7 yrs old)
Feedback:
“ I would like to thank you for the opportunity to create, draw, express yourself and communicate. You are doing a very big help for people’s mental health.”
(Vicki)
“ My son really struggles going to nursery and to be separated from me. I will give him a heart to take with him to remember that I am here when he gets back…”
(group member)
Children’s Artwork
This project has been made possible by support and funding from The Arts Council of Wales and The Community Lottery Fund.
