This was a collaborative project between the University of Dundee and the Cottage Family Centre in Kirkcaldy, Fife that brought expectant mothers together to explore their journey of motherhood using creative arts. Facilitated by Shabnam Wasim, (Research and Innovation Services), the project brought Dr Sushila Chowdhry (School of Health Sciences) and Dr Vicky Armstrong (School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law) together with community leaders at the Cottage Family Centre, to co-create a six-week programme for expectant mothers in the ‘Bumps to Babes’ group. The team worked in partnership with Dundee singer songwriter, Be Charlotte.
The programme included art sessions, creative writing, and music workshops. A day trip to the University of Dundee Botanic Garden was organised, to demonstrate how connecting with green spaces, or bringing nature into your everyday life, can benefit your mental and physical wellbeing. The art sessions were led by Dr Sushila Chowdhry and explored pregnancy and mothering, and what it meant to be a woman during these life-changing times. Themes expressed included body changes, emotions, and wellbeing in pregnancy, as well as their identity as individuals and as mothers.
Be Charlotte held creative writing sessions exploring descriptive and expressive words, later combining these with music for song writing. Having built a good rapport in the earlier art sessions, the group were more comfortable getting involved in these open discussions. As well as artwork the participants produced a song, I am Ready, produced and recorded by Be Charlotte.
The project concluded in a celebratory event at the Cottage Family Centre, to ensure the group feel valued and took pride in their work, with Be Charlotte performing the song live. Participants were able to showcase their creative outputs to family, friends, and organisations that work closely with the Centre.
Be Charlotte also gave a live performance of the song to invited guests during the ‘Light It Up’ event at Festival of the Future 2023.
For more information on the outputs and impact of this project visit https://www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/i-am-ready-cottage-family-centre-project