“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” This quote by the poet, writer and painter ee cummings is on the homepage of Creative Curiosities SW and encapsulates the organisation’s approach to working with neurodivergent children, young people and their families.
Creative Curiosities is neurodivergent-led and runs creative and performing arts activities, often based in nature, developed with sensory and emotional wellness and neurodivergence in mind. Its groups provide a non-judgemental space where children and young people can explore their sensory requirements and feel safe to ‘unmask’ and be themselves. They are supported to explore how to self-regulate their sensory needs, explain those needs to others and request accommodations.
The CIC works across Plymouth, the South Hams and West Devon and also offers tutoring and advocacy to support children into education and young people into employment.
Rose Taylor, co-founder and curator of Creative Curiosities, said: “We want children and young people to understand that being neurodivergent means their brains work differently, not deficiently. We want them to see the successes the neurodivergent adults have made of their lives so they have positive role models. We want them to have a space where they are clearly heard and understood and where people really “get them”.
Creative Curiosities received a small grant of £4,800 from Devon Community Foundation last year to support its monthly groups.
Rose said: “The funding we received makes such a difference. Children and young people know we are a safe place to be. We see this in so many ways. One young person started attending alongside their mother. They’d never accessed an activity group before. In the first sessions they were hesitant and spent the time watching as their mum played with the toys alongside them. Over the course of the sessions this progressed to them joining in with adults first and then other young people. They now attend happily, moving around the activities confidently and independently, happily being themselves.”
