Creative Voices Stockport 2025
On Tuesday 9th December, we held our final Creative Voices event of 2025. Creative Voices is our national forum for people we support. It is a great opportunity for people to take part in workshops, share their ideas, meet the Board, and help shape the future of the Creative Support.
It has been a powerful and proactive year for Creative Voices which has been held in different parts of the country including Whitby, Manchester, Telford and London, with a final get-together at Head Office in Stockport. At our final event, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from throughout the year.
Antony, Marcus, Caine and Simon from Greater Manchester, and Adam from Calderdale, joined us in person to talk to the Quality Team and Chair of the Board, Joolz Casey, who spoke about her hopes for next year: “We want to build a stronger connection between Creative Voices and the Board. We’re working on a co-production strategy to ensure our outcomes are created together with you.”
When asked what they’d like to see more of in Creative Voices or in their support, everyone offered some fantastic suggestions. “Next year I’d like more cooking opportunities,” said Antony. “I want to go to Creative Voices in Blackpool and dance in the Blackpool Ballroom!” said Adam. “I would like more Creative Support walk-in and day centres to make more friends, and more volunteering opportunities to help me get into work,” said Marcus.
Following the in-person session, Sven, Cassie, Ruthie and Ann-Marie in the North East, Nicola in Wigan and Graham in Whitby joined us via Zoom and also shared some great ideas. Sven spoke to one of our Board of Trustees, Rachael Corbelli, about finances and how funding works within the organisation so he can better support his service with housing, events and campaigns.
Sven already contributes by taking part in Creative Support’s recruitment panels. He said, “I think this is a really good way of keeping people supported by Creative Support engaged in who is being recruited into our services. I also think Creative Voices are important meetings for people like me, and I’d like more support around organising and accessing transport to meet in person.”
Nicola in Wigan asked about the next meeting and whether there would be more localised events so they could attend in person next time, and a Creative Voices session in Wigan was suggested.
Sam Priestley, Head of Quality, who organises Creative Voices spoke about what’s coming up:
- Paid work and volunteering opportunities for people we support.
- More local Creative Voices forums in Blackpool, Rugby, Bradford and Doncaster.
- Workshops on the ‘I’ statement themes at Creative Voices, including sessions on keeping safe (e.g. how to stay safe, the role of staff, training, talking about policy and rights, whistleblowing.
- The annual Co-production Conference next summer. An opportunity for people across the country to take part in interactive workshops, learn more about Creative Voices and get involved in co-producing outcomes.
We can’t wait to see you in 2026 for another fantastic year of creating change through Creative Voices! In February, we’re off to Blackpool. Dates to be released soon.
For more information about how to get involved in Creative Voices, please email our Quality Team at sarah.smith@creativesupport.co.uk
