Introduction 

In December 2025 and January 2026, I designed and facilitated two creative workshops for the RECENTRE project at University College London (UCL)’s Institute for Global Health, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience involved in a co-produced research initiative focused on supporting pregnant and lactating people. 

The aim of the workshops was to create opportunities for reflection, connection, and collaborative thinking, while exploring the values that would help guide the project moving forward. Rather than relying solely on discussion, participants engaged with creative activities that encouraged conversations, curiosity, and collective meaning-making.  

Workshop 1: Imagining RECENTRE’s Future 

The first workshop used collaborative collage-making to explore hopes and aspirations for the project. 

Participants worked in small groups to imagine that five years had passed and a newspaper was reporting on RECENTRE’s success. Using images, words, and creative materials, each group created a shared collage representing the future they hoped to help build. The process encouraged discussion around motivations, interdisciplinary collaboration, meaningful change, and visions of a positive future.  

Groups then reflected on the stories emerging from their collages, identifying key themes and values embedded within their imagined futures.  

Workshop 2: Mapping Our Shared Values 

The second workshop explored the values underpinning effective collaboration and co-production. 

Using a values-based compass framework, participants reflected on the principles that would help guide the RECENTRE project. Small groups discussed values such as care, collaboration, creativity, respect, equity, and inclusion, before contributing their ideas to a collective values mural.  

Participants then created individual “values tokens” using creative materials. These small symbolic objects represented values they wished to carry forward into the project and served as tangible reminders of the commitments and aspirations emerging from the workshop.  

Approach 

Throughout both workshops, creativity was used not as an artistic end in itself, but as a tool for reflection, dialogue, and relationship-building. 

Activities were designed to be accessible regardless of artistic experience, with a focus on participation, conversation, and collective meaning-making. The workshops combined arts-based methods, co-production principles, and wellbeing-informed facilitation to create an environment where participants could reflect, connect, and contribute in different ways. 

Outcomes 

The workshops helped participants build relationships across disciplines, reflect on shared values, and begin developing a collective vision for the project. Feedback highlighted the value of creativity as a way of encouraging conversation, connection, and participation among people with different backgrounds and experiences. Participants particularly valued the opportunity to connect while making, explore shared values, and engage in meaningful discussions in a relaxed and supportive environment.  

Workshop participants described the creative activities as therapeutic, enjoyable, and effective at helping people feel like equal contributors within the project. Many reported leaving with a clearer understanding of the project’s vision, greater excitement about future collaboration, and increased confidence engaging with creative methods.  

Feedback 

“We hired Laura to design and deliver a two-part creative workshop for our interdisciplinary research group, which includes clinicians, academics, practitioners and experts by experience in the field of maternal and child health. This workshop served as the launch for a new project, and many of the attendees were meeting one another for the first time. Laura worked with us to develop a workshop that suited the needs and values of the project. Her experience in facilitating creative activities together with her familiarity with academic research and participatory approaches were invaluable in developing an engaging workshop this this unique group of people. To be accessible for the whole team, we also needed to offer online attendance, and Laura worked with us to make sure that everyone would feel engaged and included in the workshop, whether they were online or in the room. Some attendees were nervous to step outside of their comfort zone and be creative, but Laura’s warmth and calm guidance put everyone at ease. The workshop addressed personal and sensitive topics, which were well-suited to Laura’s people-centred and inclusive approach to facilitation. The workshop was a big success, and helped us to develop rapport as a team and establish open, mutually respectful working relationships. Perhaps most importantly, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.” 

Ros, Research Team member, RECENTRE project