My Family Creates - free online creative activities for SEND families
The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded a grant to Huddersfield Literature Festival to deliver a special project as part of its spring 2022 Festival. My Family Creates will comprise free online creative activities specially designed for SEND (special educational needs or disability) families, with particular focus on those of South Asian, African and Caribbean heritage. The videos and downloadable activity packs will feature creative writing, dance, creative and physical movement, sensory drama and wellbeing activities – delivered by industry experts, Salma Zaman and Nisha Lall.
The activity packs will be available to download from the festival website and the videos will be hosted on the HLF YouTube channel, and then made available to SEND schools, organisations and networks.
My Family Creates aims to improve confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing, and to reduce isolation for participants, while encouraging families to try new creative activities in the familiar setting of their own homes and to bond over shared experiences.
Festival Director Michelle Hodgson
says:
“We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Our Festival is committed to supporting access for all and My Family Creates is an excellent fit for our community strand.”
Project leader Nisha Lall says:
“This is a much-needed project for families that can be accessed directly in their homes. We are looking forward to creating more activities that will help families to feel more connected, confident and creative, and less excluded.”
Project leader Salma Zaman says:
“My Family Creates will allow us to put in place carefully targeted SEND resources for families, carers, children and young adults with additional needs and disabilities. This project will enable us to capture valuable snippets of targeted learning and development and help build confidence and raise self-esteem among the participants, as well as their families and carers.”
Responses to the My Family Creates pilot project:
“The activities made us connected as a family”
“We felt confidence because it was easy to follow”
“We engaged and interacted with many sensory and tactile equipment after the session.
"My son was very calm and relaxed. We loved Greedy Gertie (herself) in her wheelchair”
The My Family Creates resources and videos can be found using the links below:
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