The Spring term of Create & Change saw us working with artist Zunaira Raid. Delivered in partnership with Dolphin Women’s Centre, Create and Change is a welcoming space where women can express themselves creatively and build meaningful connections.
Zunaira Raid is an experienced Art in Health facilitator and fine artist with over 10 years of practice delivering inclusive arts workshops across healthcare, community and educational settings. Alongside her creative work, she holds a Master’s in Painting and an MSc in Project Management.
For Zunaira, Create and Change closely aligned with her practice:
“My work focuses on using art as a way to engage both the mind and hands, supporting people’s wellbeing and giving them space to step away from everyday stress. I design activities that are interactive and engaging, encouraging participants to communicate with each other and share their thoughts about the work they are creating.”
Her approach is intentionally inclusive:
“I don’t limit my practice to a specific community, my approach is inclusive and I aim to create a space where everyone feels welcome and comfortable to participate. In this project, many participants were from South Asian backgrounds, which added a sense of connection within the group.”
Throughout the programme, Zunaira adapted her sessions in response to the group:
“While I didn’t change the overall session plan, I adjusted the methods and structure depending on the participants’ needs and energy. For example, I sometimes rearranged the order of activities, starting with simpler and more accessible tasks to help participants feel relaxed and build confidence before moving into more in-depth work.”
Over time, she observed a clear shift in the group:
“At the beginning, some participants seemed unsure about what to expect and were a bit hesitant to engage. My initial focus was on creating a comfortable and relaxed environment where they could build confidence and express themselves freely through painting.”
“Over time, I saw a clear shift – participants became more engaged and started looking forward to the sessions. They were curious about what we would do next and showed a strong interest in continuing their creative work.”
This growth extended beyond creativity:
“Creatively, they explored new ways of expressing themselves; socially, they became more open and connected with each other; and personally, many seemed more confident and comfortable within the group.”
One moment that stayed with her came at the end of the project:
“At the beginning, I had to actively encourage participants to engage and interact, but by the end, there was a real sense of connection within the group.”
“On the last day, several participants expressed how much the sessions meant to them. They encouraged me to stay in touch, even if just for a short visit and one participant gifted me a scented candle as a reminder of our time together. Another shared that I would be missed and described me as being like a sister to the group.”
Reflecting on the experience, Zunaira describes it as a process of mutual learning:
“I am someone who is always learning through observing others, and this experience strengthened that approach. My focus was on giving participants confidence, respect and a supportive space to express themselves.”
“In return, I received so much more than I expected – a real sense of connection, warmth, and appreciation from the group.”
“As an artist and facilitator, I took away how powerful creative processes can be in building confidence, encouraging connection and supporting wellbeing within a group setting.”
Rather than a fixed outcome, Create & Change became a space shaped by Zunaira’s approach, where creativity, care and connection developed over time. Her facilitation demonstrates how inclusive, responsive arts practice can build confidence, nurture relationships and support wellbeing in meaningful, lasting ways.
Create and Change reflects Sampad’s commitment to connecting people through inclusive, community-led arts activity. Delivered in partnership with Dolphin Women’s Centre, the sessions create welcoming spaces where women can express themselves creatively, support their wellbeing and build meaningful connections.
