The UC Creatives journey: From academic research to empowerment through the arts

Host and Fuse public partner, Cheryl Blake, speaks with Mel and PJ who are members of UC Creatives - a participatory arts project co-produced with people who have experience of claiming Universal Credit (UC).

Using personal experiences and stories, they talk about how to set up a group like this, who is involved with UC Creatives and what opportunities have emerged from the project. Mel and PJ share how this experience differs from simply being asked to 'take part' in research, and they touch on what’s next for the UC Creatives.

Mel and PJ also answer the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

About the guests

Mel and PJ are members of UC Creatives. The project is part of the public involvement and impact work of a large-scale mixed methods evaluation of the health impacts of UC. UC Creatives is a collaboration with members of the public with experience of UC, researchers from Newcastle University and Northumbria University, and practitioners from the St Vincent de Paul Society Deaf Centre. UC Creatives is the result of a committed and passionate organising team, including seven wonderful creative people with experience of claiming UC.

About the host

Cheryl Blake is an expert by experience who has collaborated closely with Fuse and the wider public partner-led podcast planning group in creating the 'Public Health Research and Me' podcast. Her interests and specialised subjects are around mental and sexual health, domestic abuse, coercive and violent behaviour, and family court and social workers within that system. She supports survivors of sexual/abuse to find female empowerment through art, poetry and meditation.

Resources and further information

UC Creatives

UC and Mental Health study

Evaluation of the Health Impacts of Universal Credit

⁠Fuse⁠

NIHR School for Public Health Research

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Contact for more information, or a copy of the transcript: ⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group; Affinity Media (editing); Shaun O'Boyle (training); and Academic Audio Transcription (transcription). Produced by Ella Anderson. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

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