Growing Places have formed an exciting new partnership with Creatful.

Building creativity, community, and sustainability together.

Nancy leading Growing Places holiday club Easter crafts workshop at Anders Hall, Waterlooville.

Hi, I’m Nancy, the Founding Director of Creatful CIC. I’m beyond thrilled to partner with

Growing Places on their sustainability and creativity initiatives. With their innovative

approach to early education and community-focused projects, I’m excited to contribute to

empowering positive growth in their settings and the local community.

The Inspiration

I launched Creatful in 2021 after my journey with mental health illness opened my eyes to

gaps in our community. I wanted to create spaces where people could connect through

creativity, enhance their well-being, and build a sense of belonging. At the same time, I

needed a flexible role that allowed me to be present for my two children, Aria (11) and

Harvey (9). What began as a personal mission has grown into a well-loved service across

South Hampshire and Portsmouth, with weekly creative groups and one-off events supported

by a fantastic team of 22 volunteers.

Growing Places children learning about Kawaii art, printing, and pipe cleaner flowers among other crafts.

Neurological benefits

Creativity, to me, is a powerful and underutilized tool for well-being. It extends far beyond

“The Arts”; it’s a life skill that empowers problem-solving, self-expression, mental wellness,

and more. By nurturing creativity, we unlock the ability to adapt, innovate, and approach

challenges with fresh perspectives. It’s also a beautiful way to access mindfulness, with

proven neurological benefits from engaging in daily creative activities.

With a background in Design and a passion for experience design, I’m eager to deepen my

knowledge through research into the Reggio Emilia approach used across Growing Places

settings. This aligns perfectly with my vision of creating enriching environments.

Community and sustainability

Last year alone, Creatful delivered over 300 creative community events, and I’m looking

forward to bringing exciting activities and workshops to Growing Places. Alongside this, I’ll

be working on Sustainability initiatives—collecting and repurposing materials to save them

from landfill while enriching creative programs. I’m also excited to strengthen our local

business waste network and invite parents and volunteers who share our sustainability

passion to get involved.

Getting involved

If this resonates with you, and you’d like to be part of this inspiring journey, reach out

at creatful.info@gmail.com. Together, we can create a future that’s creative, sustainable,

and connected.