Testimonials
Ruth Lewis Jones, Creative Advisor for Creative Partnership Nottingham 2008
"Usha has a natural rapport with children, but she has a special ability to nurture the suppressed creativity of jaded adults. I have seen this talent put to profound use as she inspires and supports teachers through their own self-discovery towards greater job satisfaction. It’s a wonderful thing to see grown-ups as well as children delighting in imaginative play!
She breaks down limiting barriers and expresses a kind of essence of creativity that speaks to so many people because it is elemental."
Participant from Be-ing in-touch Residency FABRIC 2023
"It was refreshing and reassuring to be reminded about human touch and be given the opportunity to connect with others authentically rather than a socially prescribed way. Thank you for your wonderful ideas and for providing a safe environment for us to express ourselves. I hope the messages in there spread far and wide. It was truly liberating."
Blessed Roberts Widmerpool Catholic Primary School Staff training
“It has given me the time to think and BE creative..I’ve learnt about other staff and shared so many ideas. It's been invaluable seeing how to use resources differently without fear.“
Hannah Sharpe, Director of Producing and Programmes, FABRIC
"Usha has been present within our programmes in many ways over the last 20 years, working with and supporting local communities of all ages and artists to enrich and improve lives through embodied experience. She is a one of a kind, a truly magical person who can bring calm, energy and creativity to any space that she enters. She has a cross disciplinary practice, and brings together her work from health, somatic practice, art, nature and science in innovative and creative ways. She is a pure delight to work with."
"Usha has a natural rapport with children, but she has a special ability to nurture the suppressed creativity of jaded adults. I have seen this talent put to profound use as she inspires and supports teachers through their own self-discovery towards greater job satisfaction. It’s a wonderful thing to see grown-ups as well as children delighting in imaginative play!
She breaks down limiting barriers and expresses a kind of essence of creativity that speaks to so many people because it is elemental."
Participant from Be-ing in-touch Residency FABRIC 2023
"It was refreshing and reassuring to be reminded about human touch and be given the opportunity to connect with others authentically rather than a socially prescribed way. Thank you for your wonderful ideas and for providing a safe environment for us to express ourselves. I hope the messages in there spread far and wide. It was truly liberating."
Blessed Roberts Widmerpool Catholic Primary School Staff training
“It has given me the time to think and BE creative..I’ve learnt about other staff and shared so many ideas. It's been invaluable seeing how to use resources differently without fear.“
Hannah Sharpe, Director of Producing and Programmes, FABRIC
"Usha has been present within our programmes in many ways over the last 20 years, working with and supporting local communities of all ages and artists to enrich and improve lives through embodied experience. She is a one of a kind, a truly magical person who can bring calm, energy and creativity to any space that she enters. She has a cross disciplinary practice, and brings together her work from health, somatic practice, art, nature and science in innovative and creative ways. She is a pure delight to work with."
Social worker for a child Foster Care on the Creative Mentor programme Virtual school 2015
“Your journals helped me reconnect with the humanity of being. Reading them revives and uplifts me. It fills me up with more that I can use to shield my families from the negative sides of the culture within which I have to work and reassures me in the wonders of the human spirit.
The journals helped me to connect with X, to hear his journey, to see a different side of him, to hear different stories and see the magic in him. It gave as the evidence/knowledge to be able to talk about him in different ways and it also guided us on how to reach out to him. This has such a powerful affect of how we view X and so will be reflected in how he will view himself. I love hearing the same experiences in different languages: your contributions to the meetings and the journals gives us different words and different lenses. It has been an honour to have my working life come alongside yours.
Social worker, mum, musician, climber, lover of the outdoor space and rain and human being!"
Year 5 pupil Greenfields Community School Nottingham 2024
"...working with you is like you're part of my family tree cos my Dad worked with you when he was younger - I like that feeling"
Rosemary Napthine Greenwood Academies - creativity for pupils at risk of exclusion
"...a member of staff, not involved with the project, who had been of the opinion that the whole thing sounded far too 'touchy, feely...wishy, washy' commented the other day that 'it was brilliant and you are fantastic in the way you work with the group' ”
“Your journals helped me reconnect with the humanity of being. Reading them revives and uplifts me. It fills me up with more that I can use to shield my families from the negative sides of the culture within which I have to work and reassures me in the wonders of the human spirit.
The journals helped me to connect with X, to hear his journey, to see a different side of him, to hear different stories and see the magic in him. It gave as the evidence/knowledge to be able to talk about him in different ways and it also guided us on how to reach out to him. This has such a powerful affect of how we view X and so will be reflected in how he will view himself. I love hearing the same experiences in different languages: your contributions to the meetings and the journals gives us different words and different lenses. It has been an honour to have my working life come alongside yours.
Social worker, mum, musician, climber, lover of the outdoor space and rain and human being!"
Year 5 pupil Greenfields Community School Nottingham 2024
"...working with you is like you're part of my family tree cos my Dad worked with you when he was younger - I like that feeling"
Rosemary Napthine Greenwood Academies - creativity for pupils at risk of exclusion
"...a member of staff, not involved with the project, who had been of the opinion that the whole thing sounded far too 'touchy, feely...wishy, washy' commented the other day that 'it was brilliant and you are fantastic in the way you work with the group' ”
Nora-Swantjie Almes, producer and curator:
"...as someone who works with my head a lot, it felt like you gave me tools and an introduction on how to be in my body, open my senses to nuances and feel more grounded. I have taken this into my personal and professional life - I recently did the water exercise with one of my team members when they felt overwhelmed, I argue for more time to ‘arrive in a space’ for any performances that I put on... I learned how to be more holistic in my approach."
Emily Clayton, Teacher and CP coordinator, Old Basford School, Nottingham:
“Usha is an inspirational trainer and artist who is sensitive to the needs and interests of the staff. Her inclusive approach allows staff to feel comfortable and bring us closer together as a team…”
From Mellers Primary School Nottingham :
"Is that really a moving, talking plant?" - Year 3 child as Usha came into class as a plant!.
"Our ideas really flowed." - Teachers planning with Usha at her house and allotment.
"Wow! Your classroom looks amazing!" - Many folk after Usha supported us convert it into a 'living classroom'.
"That was the best day ever - do we have to leave?!" - Children after a day at Usha's allotment.
"Relaxation with Usha helped us to be calm and think more." - Year 4 children after a session.
"I felt 'loose' not tight and could be more imaginative." - Lataetia in Year 4 reflecting on her work with Usha.
"I learnt new creative strategies to support creative thinking." - Teachers after experiencing a few sessions with Usha.
"When is Usha coming back?" - Frequently heard in our classrooms.
"...as someone who works with my head a lot, it felt like you gave me tools and an introduction on how to be in my body, open my senses to nuances and feel more grounded. I have taken this into my personal and professional life - I recently did the water exercise with one of my team members when they felt overwhelmed, I argue for more time to ‘arrive in a space’ for any performances that I put on... I learned how to be more holistic in my approach."
Emily Clayton, Teacher and CP coordinator, Old Basford School, Nottingham:
“Usha is an inspirational trainer and artist who is sensitive to the needs and interests of the staff. Her inclusive approach allows staff to feel comfortable and bring us closer together as a team…”
From Mellers Primary School Nottingham :
"Is that really a moving, talking plant?" - Year 3 child as Usha came into class as a plant!.
"Our ideas really flowed." - Teachers planning with Usha at her house and allotment.
"Wow! Your classroom looks amazing!" - Many folk after Usha supported us convert it into a 'living classroom'.
"That was the best day ever - do we have to leave?!" - Children after a day at Usha's allotment.
"Relaxation with Usha helped us to be calm and think more." - Year 4 children after a session.
"I felt 'loose' not tight and could be more imaginative." - Lataetia in Year 4 reflecting on her work with Usha.
"I learnt new creative strategies to support creative thinking." - Teachers after experiencing a few sessions with Usha.
"When is Usha coming back?" - Frequently heard in our classrooms.
