Our projects all use creativity in some way to help make a difference to people’s lives. We receive consistently good feedback from participants who notice significant changes to their lives as a result of our work.
Creating Your Future
When they start this programme, we find that almost all our participants have significantly underestimated what they can achieve. Often this is because of previous bad experiences of learning or working environments, which have neither catered for their needs nor capitalised on their strengths. Our participants often face barriers to traditional careers. Many are neurodivergent, some have chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, many are also carers for children or other family members. What they have in common is that they want to work and self-employment is the most popular option they choose, often because of the flexibility it offers.
During the programme, our participants grow in self-confidence and self-esteem and gradually realise what they really can achieve. By the end they are ready to move forward and take the next steps by setting up businesses, taking new qualifications or changing career direction. We love to hear how their careers have progressed because of the programme. Here are just a few examples of what some of our programme graduates have achieved:
- Horticulture and garden design qualifications, setting up own business, being featured on TV
- Becoming a certified autism awareness trainer and advocate and receiving multiple achievement awards
- Earning a living as an artist, winning an award and being featured in Devon Life
- A new and successful career in web design
- Gaining a postgraduate qualification in art therapy.
Merry Widows
When our participants first join Merry Widows many of them tell us that they have spent too long on their own at home and they now want to start rebuilding their lives after bereavement or loss. At Merry Widows they find a welcoming group of women with similar experiences to themselves, some recently bereaved, others bereaved some years ago, but still feeling the benefit of community and new friendships. New participants are always welcomed. Enduring friendships are formed. Some participants have told us that they especially value talking with others who have gone through similar experiences of loss and they find strength from knowing they are not alone.
As our Merry Widows gain new confidence and their horizons expand, they often find their social lives become so full that they don’t always have time to come along to sessions anymore. We see that as a huge success!
Views from our participants
Participant testimonials
I was referred to Merry Widows after the death of my husband by a person who already came. Especially at the beginning I found it a great help at getting back out. I really enjoy the meetings and outings and have made some lovely friends.
Merry Widows participant
As one of the original members of the Merry Widows Group, I can honestly say it has become a very special part of my life, particularly as someone living alone. Over the years of meeting regularly, I have found it to be a safe and welcoming space where
lasting friendships are made.
Merry Widows participant
What I value most is the group’s non-judgemental and inclusive spirit, which allows everyone to feel comfortable and able to share their thoughts and feelings. With a wide variety of activities and events, there is always something enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability.
Merry Widows participant
The activities we do are varied and interesting. I particularly like the crafts that we undertake i.e. card making, painting and making items from clay.
Merry Widows participant
I do look forward to coming and understand that now some doctors are recommending it to suitable patients after bereavement etc.
Merry Widows participant
I don’t do any housework on club days. We can talk about our complaints and no-one minds and I get coffee and biscuits.
Merry Widows participant
I came to meet people, so it’s a social thing. I like to hear different speakers and it means that I get out of the house and I have something to look forward to.
Merry Widows participant
I do so enjoy these Thursdays.
Merry Widows participant
I look forward to meeting with the other ladies and having a chat and finding out what others have been doing. It’s enjoyable visiting other places, for example Buckfast Abbey.
Merry Widows participant
The strength of the Creating Your Future course is not that it will solve all your problems but that it will empower you to come to your own informed conclusions, and act from there.
All with a strong foundation of support and a sense that there is someone there who cares whether you survive or don’t survive, to ‘stand in the gap’ for you, see you as a person not as a caseload number to be processed.
I believe Creating Your Future is a wonderful model for those who want to improve their lives and self-esteem through work and service to their communities… Thank you for everything.
Creating Your Future
Participant
I was burnt out… I also couldn’t decide what job would suit me best… I was struggling to stay positive.
‘At registration I could hardly speak from feelings of grief, fear, frustration and hopelessness. I knew I wanted and needed help, but felt that there was probably not much that anyone could do for me.
I felt a sense of warmth and acceptance immediately from the tutor and the other ladies – we were all in the same boat.
Creating Your Future
Participant
I have now committed to running my own CIC which will allow me to use my strengths and earn money from what I’m passionate about.
The programme helped to create a shift in perspective and did a lot to improve my self-confidence and I started to feel that life could get much better still. I could see how I could use my existing skills (in web design) to continue to upskill with a view to getting IT related work.
Creating Your Future
Participant