My name is Angela O'Hara and I'm the managing director of Creative Changemakers CIC. I started Creative Changemakers because I am passionate about stories, creativity and wellbeing. I have worked with various community groups over the last 10 years and I love helping people on their journey to embrace their story, find their voice, express themselves creatively and improve their wellbeing.
After finishing my film degree at Queens University in 2014, I found myself struggling to find my place in the world, with no confidence, low self esteem and no voice. One day I was reading about low self esteem and it felt as though someone had an insight into my head. My first thought was relief because I had assumed that everyone had this harsh narrative inside, once I realised it was part of this, I knew that there must be a way to change it and I went to therapy for the first time.
Welcome
I realised the thing I had been missing my whole life was education around mental health and wellbeing tools for coping when life is tough. This started a passion in me for education because everyone can benefit from knowing these tools, understanding their thoughts, feelings and behaviours and from learning you have the power to change your story. I started a journey working within mental health services as a group facilitator developing and delivering courses around mental health and recovery.
Throughout my career I've maintained my love of stories and often used my film making and creative design skills to support and encourage people to share their stories. Around 6 years ago, I branched out to working with community groups with different backgrounds focusing on creative wellbeing workshops. I've worked with people in recovery from addiction, women's groups, men's groups, youth, adapting my approach and topics depending on what the groups needs are.
I love to learn and have trained in different disciplines of the years but I'm passionate about combining mental health coaching and NLP with creative arts. I still deliver a range or programmes I've developed around mental wellbeing but I am very passionate especially supporting people to develop confidence, skills, identity and better wellbeing using creativity.
My approach is rooted in participatory arts and using drama, writing, film-making and creative coaching activities to get communities creating art and narratives that are important to them. I'm passionate about changing the narrative and challenging stigma and assumptions. I love to see recovery in action and empowering people to have a voice and that they hold the pen to change the direction of the story.
I am excited for the future with Creative Changemakers CIC. For the creativity and ideas we will explore and raise awareness too, to the people and communities we will reach, the people will can support to build a life that is meaningful to them and the change we hope to create in society. Thank you for joining us on the journey and read a bit more about what we do and how we developed below.
Creative Changemakers
Creative Changemakers CIC is a not for profit community organisation that uses creative arts, mental wellbeing and education to raise awareness and inspire change. Our mission is to empower communities to use their voices to address social, cultural, and wellbeing challenges, combining education with participatory arts to build confidence, skills, and meaningful connections.
We offer workshops, programmes and productions that are adaptable to the group or client's needs. Using film, drama, storytelling and incorporating mental wellbeing tools, we create inclusive spaces where individuals and communities can express themselves creatively and improve wellbeing.
IMAGE: Angela at the Ards Peninsula Awards 2026 with Creative Changemakers CIC as a Finalist in 'Purpose Driven Organisation of the Year Award and Highly Commended in 'Best Creative Business'
Drama for Change
Drama for Change was the catalyst to forming Creative Changemakers. Drama for Change was a community arts based theatre production funded by Ards Business Hub's 'Business and Community Fund'. The project worked with different community groups with lived experience to bring their stories to life on the stage and screen.
We brought together people affected by mental health, addiction, health inequalities, covid, bullying, self esteem to tell their stories. We initially had creative wellbeing workshops that allow participants to share their stories in a safe non-judgemental space and gain peer support. Angela then wrote the scripts based on the different communities experiences and brought them back for a read through and changes to the scripts.
IMAGE: The cast of Drama for Change in rehearsals
Participants with lived experience then had an opportunity to get involved in the production, this was either as part of the live performances or filmed. For the theatre production we created a new community of people who were interested in acting. It was crucial to us that anyone interested in taking part, had an opportunity to do so, no matter the level of experience, there was a role for everyone.
We had two live performances over two nights and the feedback from audiences was overwhelmingly positive, with many saying “these plays need to be shown in healthcare and schools”.
The production comprised of 4 short plays and a short film. The commitment and encouragement from the cast and community groups involved was so inspiring. We hope this is the first of many 'Drama for Change' productions, we know there are so many more voices and stories out there that need to be shared and stigmas challenged. We hope with these productions, we can create a more understanding, equal, compassionate society with communities connected and people's wellbeing improved.
IMAGE: Dress Rehearsals with some of the cast of 'Drama for Change'. Credit to 'County Down Spectator' for the Photo.