I had my first session with an all women group at Alexandra Childrens` Centre…we were slow to get started as the women settled their children in the creche, but once we were all sat together the atmosphere felt really comfortable and calm. The women were really open to trying new things and as we tried out different things we shared our experience with each other. It felt like a really lovely start and I almost immediately felt very relaxed with this group of women. The women seemed to very quickly find their flow and became absorbed in their designs…

We used Bolton Museums` beautiful collection of shells to inspire our designs and then sewed onto the paper.

Two lovely families turned up whilst I was there…neither being able to speak very much English….to my amazement one of these families got involved…all three children attempted to follow my instructions…the dad was the only member of the family who did not, instead he drew his own image quite happily it seemed. This family seemed quite happy to have a break and get involved for a short amount of time.

Once this family had left two women came along, so then the group was made up of myself and four women; once we had all relaxed into each others companies I could feel how absorbed the women were in their work.The flow of the women came really unexpectedly and changed the atmosphere of the group completely….i actually found my own flow drawing alongside these women. Communication was easy and we talked about our experiences of drawing at school and how difficult we found it; yet everyone in the group seemed to be finding an unexpected pleasure in it!

Near the end another family turned up and were unable to speak any English…it did not feel right to involve them in trying to explain what the project was about, (surely impossible under the circumstances).. instead an offer of a drink and food seemed more appropriate and a friendly smile.

I started my first group with a refugee group who meet in Darwen at the United reformed Church…I have worked with them at Bolton Museum once before, so I knew some of them and knew the difficulties of engaging them. People tended to drop-in throughout the group, so along with that and difficulty communicating  made engagement difficult.There was also a toddler!  I did find when group members had come along especially for the group they were much easier to engage in the activity, but people just dropping by did not seem interested. People walk in to the church in crisis and not being able to speak a word of English, so the last thing on their mind is creativity, (which I can appreciate), so maybe seeing a group of people being creativity is a sign of hope for them and I should not underestimate the impact that could have.

All the interruptions made progress slow, but once we were half way through I could feel the group start to relax and hopefully find their flow. It was really difficult to read the group members… asking them was difficult due to communication, so all I had was body language. Maybe the work can speak for them… I feel the work shows flow, so hopefully they did find some relaxation through their creativity.

It was the final workshop at Inspire, so we went next door to Making Rooms to find out about the amazing things they do and how the group members can get involved.We were all inspired and excited by the possibilities….such an amazing place! Thanks Making Rooms.

We went back to finish off our designs and to celebrate the final session did some cake tasting! Thanks to Inspire and their wonderful staff; I felt so at home and supported and I can only imagine that`s how the group members feel too.