Reimagine Redditch hosted Have a Go! Creative workshop events over the course of April. The purpose of the event was to encourage members of the Redditch community and the wider Worcestershire area who were isolated to come out and connect with other local Redditch residents.
There were seven sessions in total over the course of the month, which included poetry writing and mosaic making. What's more, the sessions were free to attend. Making sure that money would not be a barrier for Redditch locals was a core part of Reimagine Redditch’s ethos, when putting the Have a Go! sessions together. To make sure as many people could access as many sessions as possible, the sessions were held in familiar locations such as Redditch Library, Windmill Community Centre and Crabbs Cross Methodist Church. The RDC was pivotal in spreading awareness to local residents and supporting in person at some of the sessions.
Huw Moseley, Producer at Reimagine Redditch, and co-lead for the ‘Have a Go!’ project, said:
“At the end of April, we finished delivering our spring series of Have a Go! events, and they’ve been a great success. We offered a wide range of activities, to different groups, with various partners and in all types of locations. It’s been fantastic to see the comfort and joy participants experience, be they part of the mosaics workshop run by artist Jackie Nash at Crabbs Cross Methodist Church, or embracing the poetry workshops and planetarium with Redditch Astronomical Society at Windmill Community Centre, to name just two events.
“The ‘Have a Go!’ project builds on one of Reimagine Redditch’s early pilot projects, ‘Creative Connections’, which gave people a chance to try something new while bringing them together as part of a group, in a safe, welcoming, and warm space.
“Communities are at the heart of ‘Have a Go!’ and we believe that the local people who participate deserve talented creatives and artists to inspire and guide them through the activities. Enter, our artists. The creative practitioners have all been chosen by the Reimagine Redditch Vision Group – a panel of community representatives and Reimagine Redditch team members.
“Our artists were carefully selected by this group to make sure their specialisms met the needs and wishes of local people, but also because of their ability to inspire and engage with people who traditionally do not take part in creative activities, for a host of reasons. All our artists also have experience of working with people who suffer from isolation and loneliness.
“‘Have a Go!’ workshops offer artist-led, creative activities in small groups. With a wide array of activities ranging from arts and crafts to dance and photography, the project has something to inspire everybody. People are then able to explore their creative potential in sessions led by our unique artists, which are run in partnership with friendly folk from amazing local organisations, including REACH, Inspire, Redditch Library and more.
“The Have a Go! project has helped us to connect with even more organisations and groups across Redditch who are at the heart of local communities. A massive thanks must go to our partners Redditch District Collaborative and the Social Prescribing Team who have made this all possible and who have been integral to the development and delivery of the project.
“We’re already looking forward to planning the next series of events, which will take place this coming autumn and winter. Let’s create.”
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Professional creative practitioners and artists Vivien Bedford and Jackie Nash delivered the Spring Planting and Flowers Workshop and the Mosaic Workshop, respectively. Jackie said: “Some participants told me that they ‘weren't any good at art’. This is a misconception I encounter regularly. I believe with support, everyone can be creative, and it's important to provide activities that allow people to have a go at art/craft in a very relaxed manner. This helps to break down barriers. The art activity takes the pressure off. One lady confided that she'd hardly been out of the house in a year, and she’d really enjoyed the activity and being with other people. She didn't feel confident to just interact with others, but the activity gave her a focus and helped her interact in a less pressurised way. She was also then able to access the support she needed as she then felt confident to share the difficulties she was experiencing. Luckily, working with Batchley Support Group, they were able to help.”
Vivien said: “The group was very happy, positive, and resilient. They were all team players, supporting and double checking on each other, which was lovely to see. If they felt nervous at the beginning, by the end they were all buzzing with positivity. The group were left feeling keen to explore other creative workshops.”
We would like to share our thanks and appreciation to the Reimagine Redditch team.
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