Kinship Creativity Project
We Make Culture CIC have worked with Sunderland- based charity More than Grandparents and the kinship families they work with for a number of years, using music and creativity to support emotional development, self-expression and promote wellbeing.
Our approach is led by the kinship families, which has led us in many directions, including trauma-informed early years sessions, interactive performances, creating the Kinship Kids song and animation and go-and-see visits to shows. In December 2022, working with Unfolding Theatre, we supported the kinship families to co-create their own pantomime, working with writer Becci Sharrock, director Abigail Lawson, musician Ashleigh Lowes and artist Kerry Cook as support.
Kinship families face multiple challenges, which mean that accessing cultural opportunities can be difficult. Working together with the More than Grandparents team, we are proud to watch the children and young people flourish through music and creativity.
“It’s been brilliant to see our kinship children having so much fun! They’ve often been through a lot in their young lives and this gives them the opportunity to connect through music and enjoy themselves.”
Introducing “Kinship Kids”
To celebrate Kinship Care Week 2023, we are proud to share the song and animation,“Kinship Kids”. This very special song, which celebrates the experiences of kinship care families, is the result of a collaboration between More than Grandparents kinship families, musicians Ashleigh Lowes and Paige Temperley, and illustrator, Josie Brookes.
We couldn’t be more proud of this project and hope you’ll love it as much as we do!
You can also purchase the song, “Kinship Kids”, on Bandcamp, to support We Make Culture CIC to continue working creatively with kinship families: https://wemakeculture.bandcamp.com/track/kinship-kids