Create to Motivate – Arts for adults on probation
Create to Motivate is an arts programme that aims to contribute to improving mental health and reducing re-offending. It has been delivered in Augustus House, Leamington Spa (Approved Premises) for 5 years, with great support from the staff there.
CREATE TO MOTIVATE 2026
Film-making with Nicky Prestage
Nicky worked with the men on probation for 8 weeks in the Spring/Summer both in front of and behind the camera thanks to funding from Warwickshire Police and Crime Commisssioner and Augustus House.
To see the film click HERE
James Robinson will be delivering a range of arts and crafts sessions in the autumn and working with the men to create a colllaborative piece of artwork.
CREATE TO MOTIVATE 2025-2026
In its 5th year we continued to deliver 30 song-writing, film-making and arts and crafts sessions to the residents with support from Warwickshire Police and Crime Comissioner, Warwickshire County Council and Augustus House in partnership with Crave Arts. We also delivered 3 training sessions for the staff of Augustus House and neighbouring AP’s to help them to deliver arts and crafts with the residents when we are not there to continue the support. We delivered street arts with Brink, pottery with James Robinson and Mindful photography with Nick Davis.
Film-making with Nicky Prestage
The group created a comedy ‘who-dunnit’ film with the perpetrator being the least expected person in the film – a message for everyone about not making assumptions.
Participant feedback
‘Great course, and great knowledge and respect from Nicky and volunteer R. Gets everyone involved, no pressure’.
‘I did the voiceover and feel proud to have taken part’
‘It really helped pass the time and made me feel positive after each session’
Song-writing with Martin Riley
The group created a song called ‘Critical Thinking’. One participant was a heavy metal and punk fan and so Martin used Skindread and Green Day song structures as a basis for the piece they all wrote together.
Participant feedback
‘It was fun – meant me not just walking around town doing nothing’
‘I really enjoyed coming to group. I had a really good time and like helping to create music. Thank you for keeping me occupied’
Pottery with James Robinson
Over the weeks, participants made a host of creations, many inspired by animal and wildlife images. James supported each participant, tuning into what they wanted to achieve
Participant feedback
‘The environment has been really positive, so it’s helped in other ways’
‘It’s not usually my thing but I did it for the non-toxic environment’
‘It’s calm, I’m an introvert’
CASE STUDY
‘The biggest impact has been with a resident with Neurodiversity issues. Prior to the group, he had barely left his room and was even eating his meals in his bedroom. However, on the final session he had built up enough confidence to attend the group with multiple other residents whom he previously would have avoided. On the final day he helped prepare food and sat and ate with multiple other residents / staff’
Premises manager feedback.
CREATE TO MOTIVATE 2024 – 2025
In 2024-25, the programme was delivered with 3 art-forms.
Male offenders are resident at Augustus House for a period of time as part of rehabilitation following prison. Over the course of the project (June 2024 – March 2025), different residents experienced the arts sessions. Arts Uplift delivered a 10 week block of film-making, 10 weeks of music-making and 10 weeks of pottery. The last session in each block was a sharing session where the fruits of the course are shared in front of others. This means 30 sessions were delivered in total with people who had offended and were at risk of re-offending in Warwickshire.
Made possible with thanks to funding from Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Warwickshire County Council and Augustus House.
Film Making Sessions
The film, ‘Judged’, about the impact of being judged and how this affects someone’s whole day, can be seen by by clicking the link below.
Feedback from participants
I have felt my mood improve over the 6 weeks I have been in the group. The patience of the tutor has brought me out of my shell and I’ve benefited massively from that’
‘Feeling more positive, more relaxed’
‘Film club made me feel appreciated – especially as my ideas were used in the film’
I am determined to live a crime free life and taking part in the course, speaking to other lads on this group and listening to their experiences has b
I played a part in this film. I would never have dreamed of doing anything like this but it has made me feel more willing to discuss my emotions to staff and my family’
Song Writing Workshop with Martin Riley
Music-making had been a popular choice amongst Augustus house residents in the past 2 years and so Martin Riley was engaged to deliver workshops again in 2024.
Martin Riley is a talented musician and music facilitator, with experience of working particularly with people in some form of disadvantage. This sits alongside his illustrious career as a pianist and songwriter for established bands such as The Charlatans and Deep Purple, and touring. Martin is skilled in adapting and responding to the needs of those with whom he works – he can quickly pivot between musical genres and develop a song from any starting point!Music sessions took place for 10 weeks over Summer 2024, led by Martin Riley.
There were 3 regular attenders and 6 people overall. Martin ensured that all those who attended sessions contributed to the composition. The scope of musical and cultural influences in the final piece was vast – from Bach’s string quartets, to Bill Hicks’ comedy, to electronic dance music. Attendees wrote lyrics (poetry), voiced a narrative, sang, created electronic music (using a Digital Audio Workstation) and played keyboard, ukelele and bass to create the final piece. The final composition included 108 overlayed tracks. Martin said that the final piece had something of all of them in it, reflecting all their interests. The band called themselves The Primary Masters.
During the sessions, one participant expressed an interest and previous experience in creating visual art. He chose to create visual art pieces during Martin’s music sessions, inspired by the music, whilst others worked on the composition. The culmination of Martin’s sessions, at the final showcase event, therefore included one musical composition and a display of the artwork (on the walls and on a slideshow) which accompanied the music, entitled ‘Kaleidoscopic Colourways’. A film of the artwork and music can be seen below.
A member of the group who is an artist was inspired to create artwork to accompany the music. Some of which can be seen below:
Feedback from participants
A great vent for putting across certain ideas that were in turn challenged further across creativity in practise’
‘Achieved with skilful self-management’
‘I developed people skills – listening as well as working within a small team’
‘I feel like I have developed some new skills’
Channelling across more creative energy in a more robustly positive fashion can only be greatly beneficial and positive’
‘I am doing my best to live a crime free life’
Pottery Sessions with James Robinson
Last year, Pottery sessions were trialled with just 5 weeks of activity. This was so well received that James Robinson was brought back this year for 10 weeks of Pottery in early 2025.James is a mixed media artist, working in oils, watercolour, Chinese brush-and-ink, block printing, ceramic and mixed-media sculpture, experienced in teaching these skills to a range of ages.
James brought images and books to inspire designs and all men were able to follow their chosen path.
Over 10 weeks, James supported each participant in their endeavours – some created multiple pieces, some just one piece. One who attended from week 3 and then sustained his attendance for the whole course created an ambitious sculpture over this time.
Feedback from participants
‘This has helped me feel better within myself. I have enjoyed it’
‘Very positive’
‘Yes it has helped – I felt chilled and calm. Kept me busy’
‘This has made me feel more calm’
‘I’ve never done pottery before and I’ve never done anything like this before’
‘I have followed the rules and committed no crimes’
‘I’m not going back to prison’
‘I always aim to have a crime free life’
Previous Create to Motivate Workshops
Filmmaking sessions took place with Nicky Prestage from Tiger Production for 9 weeks over the Autumn/Winter. This group really gelled and worked hard collaboratively to produce the short film ‘Freddie Fingers’. Each person that took part contributed as actors, camera crew and script writers.
Film Freddie Fingers
Images of the film making sessions
Music sessions took place for 9 weeks over Summer 2023, led by Martin Riley. In the sessions he worked hard with the group, enabling and supporting them to compose the lyrics and music to a collaborative song, Breathe in Breathe Out. All those who attended at least one session contributed to the final song, which had 96 different layered tracks within it.
The song can be heard HERE
CREATE TO MOTIVATE 2022/23
See below for past outcomes.
Thanks to funding from Warwickshire County Council, Augustus House, McIntyre House and Warwickshire PCC we delivered some creative workshops with adults on probation at Augustus House, Leamington Spa and McIntyre House, Nuneaton during 2022. The focus was on improving mental well being, re-developing connectedness post lock down and getting them ready for the world of work and the community. The groups made their own short films and created new songs and music.
Click HERE to see The Viewing
Click HERE to see 12 Years Inside
Click HERE to see Tobias’s poem
Click HERE to hear No More Christmas Days Without You
Click HERE to hear a poem by one of the service users
Click HERE to hear Lets Get Together (Its Christmas Time)
Click HERE to hear a rap Shameful
Click HERE for the full evaluation report
CREATE TO MOTIVATE PILOT 2021/22
See below for past project outcomes where we delivered film making and creative writing last year.
See the groups film ‘Expectations’ HERE
See an evaluation film of the process HERE
Read ‘Locked Up in Lock Down’ HERE
Read the evaluation report HERE by Debbie Birch from Crave Arts
Feedback from Darren Pateman, Manager of Augustus House
“One of the participants was released with an extremely poor record in custodial settings and this created a lot of anxiety about his release. People working with this individual did not hold a lot of hope for him being successful in the community. The writing group has given him an opportunity to feel heard and build trust with staff which has ultimately led to him feeling safe and settled in the AP. This person completed his residency with the AP without any warnings, he has moved into independent living and has gained full time employment – a real success story!”
