Creating Space for Conversation: A Free Creative Tool for Child and Family Practitioners

“Untangled” was co-created with practitioners, artists and researchers during the ArtEase project in response to the need to address barriers to creative engagement that we observed during our previous work on the Nkwihoreze project.

Sometimes it's easier to talk when your hands are busy. Focusing on a simple creative activity can help create a more relaxed space for conversation and reflection.

Building on the experience and approach developed by Nkwihoreze, we are pleased to share Untangled, a new free resource for practitioners.

The tool provides step-by-step guidance for a simple creative activity that can be used to help create space for conversations with young people and others. It is designed to help participants engage creatively while creating a comfortable environment for discussion. Practitioners are encouraged to use the guidance flexibly and adapt it to their own context and professional experience.

Untangled is available in English and Latin American Spanish and can be downloaded free of charge from UCL Discovery: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10231738/

We would love to hear how you use the tool. Whether you have feedback, questions, ideas for improvement, or examples from your practice, your experiences can help us develop future resources. You can share your thoughts through our anonymous feedback form and join the conversation with the wider community.

Tool credits: Skriczka, K., Pells, K., Anand, R., Juby, E., Mathieu-Marius, M., Parikian, L., & Pazemeckaite, I. (2026). Untangled: Creating space for communication, connection and creativity.

With thanks to Family for Every Child who partnered with ous on the ArtEase project.

This tool was produced during ArtEase project led by: Kristýna Skriczka (Principal Investigator, UCL) Kirrily Pells (Co-Investigator, UCL), funded by UCL’S HEIF Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund, 2025/2026. Collaborating project team: William Gali (Family for Every Child), Chaste Uwihoreye (University of Rwanda) and Ieva Pazemeckaite (Bee Creative Art Hub). Full project title: Lessons from Rwanda: exploring cultural barriers to artistic expression for intergenerational family connections supporting family wellbeing, University College London (UCL) IOE Research Ethics Committee Full Ethical Approval REC2308.