MORTAL FOOLS X NEWCASTLE CARERS
Mortal Fools and Newcastle Carers joined forces across 2025 for a collaborative creative intervention project, empowering young adult carers to engage with the arts and creativity.
Over 6 months, Mortal Fools worked with a core group of 10 members of Newcastle Carers' Young Adult Carers (YAC) group, to co-design a creative intervention in response to their interests, ideas and experiences. The group tried out a wide range of creative activities and developed their skills through working with professional theatre makers, artists and musicians. Together, we created a supportive space for them to make new friends, develop their confidence, and improve their well-being.
Mortal Fools have a long track record of delivering highly impactful creative intervention projects with young people with intersectional needs, in a variety of settings. However, this was our first young adult carers project and our first collaboration with Newcastle Carers.
The project culminated in co creating ‘Imagine A World…’an exciting showcase of creative work.
Scroll down for more information about and content from the showcase event.
Over 6 months, Mortal Fools worked with a core group of 10 members of Newcastle Carers' Young Adult Carers (YAC) group, to co-design a creative intervention in response to their interests, ideas and experiences. The group tried out a wide range of creative activities and developed their skills through working with professional theatre makers, artists and musicians. Together, we created a supportive space for them to make new friends, develop their confidence, and improve their well-being.
Mortal Fools have a long track record of delivering highly impactful creative intervention projects with young people with intersectional needs, in a variety of settings. However, this was our first young adult carers project and our first collaboration with Newcastle Carers.
The project culminated in co creating ‘Imagine A World…’an exciting showcase of creative work.
Scroll down for more information about and content from the showcase event.
“Working with Mortal Fools on this project has been an incredible journey of shared learning aimed at supporting young carers in engaging with the arts and creativity—many of whom have never had the opportunity to do so before. Young people have been given a safe space to express themselves, allowing them to build confidence in singing, acting, and using their voices to share their experiences of being a young carer in today’s world. We are extremely proud of these young people for sharing their stories and personal experiences and stepping out of their comfort zones to create this fantastic work.”
– Elizabeth Fletcher, Operation Director, Newcastle Carers
“Collaborating with the brilliant young people from Newcastle Young Adult Carers group has been both inspiring and rewarding for everyone at Mortal Fools. Their talent, resilience, and openness have made this creative project truly special. Working alongside Newcastle Carers staff, we’ve gained invaluable insight into the unique challenges and strengths of young carers. This learning will have a lasting impact on our practice, in which young people’s voices, experiences, and creativity continue to shape everything we do.”
- Ellie Turner, Executive Director, Mortal Fools
IMAGINE A WORLD...
‘Imagine A World…’ showed the world through the eyes of young adult carers; the reality of their everyday lives, their dreams, their hopes for the future and the things that make them unique. 10 young adult carers contributed creative works and were meaningfully involved in designing the whole event.
Newcastle Carers building was transformed into an immersive, interactive experience displaying a short film, an audio piece and a collection of visual art made by the group. The audience was invited to explore freely, taking in the artworks, responding creatively, sharing a meal, and connecting with others.
The showcase was a fantastic opportunity to hear the voices of Young Adult Carers, opening up conversations about their ideas and raised awareness of the everyday challenges they face. An audience of 43 attended, including friends and family, art sector workers, local MP’s and decision makers, and staff from Mortal Fools and Newcastle Carers. Many people had never visited Newcastle Carers before, and the evening opened up the building to the wider community.
Newcastle Carers building was transformed into an immersive, interactive experience displaying a short film, an audio piece and a collection of visual art made by the group. The audience was invited to explore freely, taking in the artworks, responding creatively, sharing a meal, and connecting with others.
The showcase was a fantastic opportunity to hear the voices of Young Adult Carers, opening up conversations about their ideas and raised awareness of the everyday challenges they face. An audience of 43 attended, including friends and family, art sector workers, local MP’s and decision makers, and staff from Mortal Fools and Newcastle Carers. Many people had never visited Newcastle Carers before, and the evening opened up the building to the wider community.
"The space was so fun and inviting, I felt really welcomed in. I was blown-away by how much the young people shared through their art and the installations - it was so personal and beautiful."
- Audience Member
Digital Content and Artworks:
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Life Without LimitsAn original song composed and recorded by the Young Adult Carers group alongside professional musician Calum Howard. What would you do if you had no limits? Let our song transport you to a world where anything is possible!
Click below to listen to the song |
The Secret Lives of Young People
A short film celebrating the highs and lows of a week in the life of young people in 2025. In a montage of funny, relatable experiences, the group shares what a typical week is like for them. From exam stress, to those days where you get nothing done, and the dreaded PE lesson! Need we say more...
Photos from 'Imagine A World...'
Audiences engagement activity responses:
"It has been lovely to see young people sharing their talents with family and fiends - they are so fantastic and have produced funny, creative and entertaining material, well done."
-Audience Member
KEY SUCESSES
- Engaged 16 young adult carers with a core group of 10.
- Supported members to build their self-belief, grow their interpersonal skills, and improve their overall wellbeing.
- Supported them to step outside their comfort zone and provided opportunities to enhance their employability, youth leadership, and communication skills.
- 5 members are on the path to achieving their Bronze Arts Award, a recognised qualification, demonstrating their skills and contributions.
- Co-created an ambitious, multi-art form and interactive showcase event with 43 attendees, and produced 2 pieces of digital content.
- Used a person-centred approach, providing a variety of ways for members to contribute, e.g delivered creative engagement packs to members homes.
- Created a platform for young adult carers to share their experiences and ideas, shedding light on the opportunities and challenges of being a young adult carer.
- Engaged with a wide range of art forms, including music making, filmmaking, creative writing, foley, improvisation, drawing, zine making, crafts, photography and more!
- Ran 2 group trips to attend cultural events at Summer on the Square and Alphabetti Theatre learning about different approaches to producing theatre and art activities.
- Created a supportive space for members to meet other young adult carers, talk about their lives and make new friends.
- Provided opportunities to create work with professional artists, including musician Calum Howard.
- Staff from both organisations took part in valuable peer practice sharing workshops.
I enjoy coming to the YAK’s and Mortal Fools collaborative afternoons because it allows me to express my creativity through drama and arts, play games with people and connect with others where I wouldn't necessarily be able to elsewhere.
-Participant
"The Newcastle Carers X Mortal Fools project allowed young people and staff to re-write the rules on creative, drama projects. As a practitioner it challenged me to work more fluidly and responsively and think outside the box. Newcastle Carers were the perfect partners to do this with!
My favourite part of the sessions was using drama games and activities to unlock what the group were interested in, their hobbies and likes, the things that make them unique and what they wanted to say to the world, and taking all of these ideas and building them into creative responses later in the session. I was blown away by how willing everyone was to just give an idea a go and bring it to life!"
-Kate Jeffries, Lead Artistic Practitioner (Young People)
“This project has provided a fantastic opportunity for young adult carers to explore their creativity in ways we haven't seen before. We are incredibly proud of the growth we've seen in these young people. Many young people joined the project feeling anxious about being in the spotlight, but Mortal Fools nurtured their confidence, encouraging them to share their ideas and see them come to life.
It has been a privilege to be part of this process, and we have been truly impressed by the work produced by the young people. Everyone worked exceptionally hard to put together the "Imagine A World" showcase, which generated excitement and buzz among the young adult carers, their friends and family members.
We've already witnessed the confidence and skills gained from this project positively impacting other areas of young adult carers lives. We look forward to seeing them continue this journey.”
- Lydia Chadwick, Young Carers Groups & Activities Worker, Newcastle Carers
"Working with Newcastle Carers' YAC group each week has been such a great experience - it's been so interesting to see the different ideas, experiences and personalities everyone can bring to each session. I've especially loved learning about their creative interests and talents, and exploring how we can make some really entertaining and meaningful art together."
-Jess Whittle, Mortal Fools Practitioner
PRACTICE SHARING
Right at the start of the project Mortal Fools and Newcastle Carers came together for a peer practice sharing workshop. Mortal Fools demonstrated how we use creative activities to help people step outside their comfort zones and develop interpersonal skills. Whilst Newcastle Carers shared their approach to creating supportive spaces for young adult carers and understanding the barriers that can prevent them from taking part in youth and creative activities.
Throughout this project it's been wonderful to work with the passionate team at Newcastle Carers to exchange skills and experiences and strengthen both of our organisations.
Throughout this project it's been wonderful to work with the passionate team at Newcastle Carers to exchange skills and experiences and strengthen both of our organisations.
Photo of Mortal Fools and Newcastle Carers staff teams from our practice sharing session.
I thoroughly enjoyed the practice exchange day with Mortal Fools; it was great to work with an organisation that really prioritises young people in its work. I gained valuable new skills that will enhance my role in supporting young adult carers.
-Julie Summer-Morrel, Young Adult Carers Worker at Newcastle Carers
ABOUT NEWCASTLE CARERS
Newcastle Carers provides a range of practical services and holistic support to those who are caring for someone due to illness, disability, mental ill-health, or problems linked to addiction.
1 in 12 young adults in Newcastle have a caring role and often struggle with no support.
Newcastle Carers are a brilliant charity trying to change that by providing access to information, support, and opportunities to take a break.
As this is a pilot project, we are excited to learn about Newcastle Carers' practice and to try new and different ways of working with young people, whilst centring the needs and lived experience of young adult carers throughout the project’s evolution.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ADULT CARERS
To find out more about Newcastle Carers and their work:
Advice and support for young adult carers can be found via:
If you’re curious about what it’s like to be a young adult carer, we suggest checking out their #WeCareToo campaign, created by a group of young adult carers and Sail Creative:
