Over the past few weeks we've had the pleasure of delivering Shine On, a creative project for young carers aged 7–16 in Leigh and Shoeburyness.

Working through drama, craft, creative writing and movement, the project created a welcoming space where young people could explore storytelling in all its forms, discover new ways to express themselves, and most importantly, find and share their own unique voices.

We began with a taster session, getting to know one another through fun team-building games and introducing everyone to the project. It was wonderful to see friendships beginning to form and confidence starting to grow.

In our first workshop, the young people explored different ways of creating stories through imaginative games and movement activities. They were encouraged to tell and share their stories in whatever format felt right for them, whether through performance, drawing, writing or spoken word. At the end of the session, one participant summed up the experience perfectly:

*"I've never done anything like that before, it was fun."*

Young Carer

Our second workshop built on these creative ideas. Participants designed beautiful book covers and story boxes to keep their creations safe, before inventing even more imaginative tales and recording them through writing, drawing or oral storytelling.

As the project came to a close, we reflected on the journey we had taken together by creating colourful flags for a shared piece of bunting. Each flag celebrated the individual young person as well as the moments they had enjoyed most throughout the project, creating a vibrant reminder of everything they had achieved together.

While the artwork and stories produced were fantastic, what stood out most was the generosity, courage and imagination shown by every participant. Some of the young people arrived feeling understandably shy or uncertain about what to expect, but over just a few sessions we watched them grow in confidence, encouraging one another, sharing ideas freely and embracing the creative process.

The project was full of laughter, creativity and memorable moments, but one quote captured the atmosphere better than any other:

"I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing."

With so many stories being invented and shared throughout each busy session, it felt like the perfect reflection of the joy everyone experienced together.

A huge thank you goes to the wonderful young carers who took part with such enthusiasm, openness and imagination, and to our partners for helping make the project possible. It has been a privilege to spend time creating alongside such a talented group of young people, and we hope they leave Shine On knowing that their stories matter, their voices deserve to be heard, and their creativity can continue to shine.