Flagship Projects How we belong

How we belong explored themes of identity, community and belonging through theatre, art & creative writing with a focus on Jewish and Muslim community groups. We also delivered work at Longsight Library, where participants joined from multiple and diverse backgrounds, from some born and bred Mancunians, to people who have settled in the city from Syria and Nigeria, to recent refugee and asylum seekers from Iran, Palestine and Kuwait.

We explored the diversity within different identities through a cultural, religious and political lens and participants responded creatively. The aim of this work as a whole has been to provide a platform for story-telling about personal experiences, to enable people to celebrate not only the similarities but also the differences in their identities, by acknowledging and accepting everyone for who they are, and celebrating all the nuances.

This work culminated in two parallel art exhibitions at The Manchester Jewish Museum and Longsight Library coinciding with International Human Rights Day on the 10th December 2022. This project was funded by Manchester City Council’s RADEQUAL.

The writing and self-discovery I have found through your workshops is something I have spoken to my therapist about, as I feel it has helped me find my voice - something that has been missing my whole life

Your workshops reduce depression and anxiety amongst refugee and asylum seekers, because of the energy and passion and creativity you bring to it