Parent carers from across Newham will be getting to grips with creative writing and illustration workshops to produce storybooks for their children.

Over a period of eight weeks throughout September and October, adult carers in the borough will be attending a series of creative writing and illustration workshops run by award-winning charity Create. Its project, creative:release is a dedicated programme for adult carers, offering valuable ‘me time’ to people who can spend more than 50 hours a week caring for loved ones.

The workshops, at Newham Carers Centre at Stratford Advice Arcade, will be run by Create’s professional artists, international artist Daniel Lehan and writer Jo Ingham. The carers will work in pairs to devise original stories for the children in their lives, which they will then record with sound-effects during a session led by writer and musician Rowan Perkins.

Finally, the carers will create original artwork for their stories using collage techniques. Their completed stories will be compiled into a storybook which will be professionally printed and will include their sound-recording on CD.

Nicky Goulder, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Create said: “One in five carers give up full-time employment to care, and most have to sacrifice some aspect of their lives. creative:release allows carers to take a much needed break from their caring responsibilities and gives them time to meet other carers and relax, feel inspired and have fun. T

“The creative arts are a great leveller and have an incredible capacity to break down barriers. I am delighted that, thanks to funding and volunteer support from global law firm Reed Smith, we are able to provide them with this opportunity.”