This Awards for All project aimed to raise awareness of commonality in the different communities’ struggles for dignity and acceptance.
The context of the project:
Derby has become a more fractured community over the past decade due to the interaction of complex global and local factors. The Muslim community, already economically and educationally excluded, came under increasing pressure since 9/11 and the London bombings. New migrant communities from Eastern Europe moved into the inner city since the expansion of the European Union in 2005 creating tensions with more established immigrant and host communities in those areas.
Target groups:
The project worked with different groups of people reflecting the main fracture lines in local society. For Derby this meant engaging with young and old around intergenerational tensions, with new migrant communities and more established Indian Subcontinent communities around cultural identity, and with others who are often stereotyped and experience prejudice such as the LGBT community.
The project was not restricted to these particular groups however. The project was based around diversity. It wanted to work with individuals from communities that are disadvantaged, disliked or excluded because of prejudice based on any factor, not just age, geographic origin, or cultural, sexual or religious identity.
The workshop programme:
Some of the groups involved preferred to work separately on their own issues initially, before coming together for the final event, and this preference was respected. Others, particularly the Age UK Friendship Group and the Muslim Youth shared some sessions.
The Muslim leadership group worked with Mash Up Theatre to produce a drama piece on racism and reactions following the Woolwich incident. The Age UK friendship group produced a video diary based on their joint sessions with young people from the Muslim Youth group that focused on misconceptions between the generations. The Age UK gay mans group produced a presentation on the role of the media as a barrier to community cohesion. The Normanton Park Roma group set up a graffiti board in the park with the phrase “My community is.........” and produced a photo collage of the responses. Undefined produced a piece of participatory art to explore issues around judgemental attitudes to appearance.
A showcase event was held as part of Inspiring Derby Week. The four hour event was attended by 50 people. Presentations were given by all the groups involved. Additional stalls were run by the Mental Health Early Intervention Unit and Art Core. Open discussions and interaction sessions were facilitated. Feedback was collected from participants and is shown below:
It made me feel like people care about the community I live in.
Very interesting project, I liked how it involved the community as a whole.
Learnt a lot about different groups there are out there in Derby.
It has made me feel like I need to open my eyes and have a look and get to know different people in the community.
It brought older and youngers together.
That we have a great future as a city
It has made me feel a bit anxious that young people are on the streets but I am sure it will be dealt with one day.
Today’s event brought together different communities & ages in a great positive way. Would love more events like this in the future.
Better informed about the issues that divide the community and how this is amplified by the media
The context of the project:
Derby has become a more fractured community over the past decade due to the interaction of complex global and local factors. The Muslim community, already economically and educationally excluded, came under increasing pressure since 9/11 and the London bombings. New migrant communities from Eastern Europe moved into the inner city since the expansion of the European Union in 2005 creating tensions with more established immigrant and host communities in those areas.
Target groups:
The project worked with different groups of people reflecting the main fracture lines in local society. For Derby this meant engaging with young and old around intergenerational tensions, with new migrant communities and more established Indian Subcontinent communities around cultural identity, and with others who are often stereotyped and experience prejudice such as the LGBT community.
The project was not restricted to these particular groups however. The project was based around diversity. It wanted to work with individuals from communities that are disadvantaged, disliked or excluded because of prejudice based on any factor, not just age, geographic origin, or cultural, sexual or religious identity.
The workshop programme:
Some of the groups involved preferred to work separately on their own issues initially, before coming together for the final event, and this preference was respected. Others, particularly the Age UK Friendship Group and the Muslim Youth shared some sessions.
The Muslim leadership group worked with Mash Up Theatre to produce a drama piece on racism and reactions following the Woolwich incident. The Age UK friendship group produced a video diary based on their joint sessions with young people from the Muslim Youth group that focused on misconceptions between the generations. The Age UK gay mans group produced a presentation on the role of the media as a barrier to community cohesion. The Normanton Park Roma group set up a graffiti board in the park with the phrase “My community is.........” and produced a photo collage of the responses. Undefined produced a piece of participatory art to explore issues around judgemental attitudes to appearance.
A showcase event was held as part of Inspiring Derby Week. The four hour event was attended by 50 people. Presentations were given by all the groups involved. Additional stalls were run by the Mental Health Early Intervention Unit and Art Core. Open discussions and interaction sessions were facilitated. Feedback was collected from participants and is shown below:
It made me feel like people care about the community I live in.
Very interesting project, I liked how it involved the community as a whole.
Learnt a lot about different groups there are out there in Derby.
It has made me feel like I need to open my eyes and have a look and get to know different people in the community.
It brought older and youngers together.
That we have a great future as a city
It has made me feel a bit anxious that young people are on the streets but I am sure it will be dealt with one day.
Today’s event brought together different communities & ages in a great positive way. Would love more events like this in the future.
Better informed about the issues that divide the community and how this is amplified by the media