On June 4th, Upcycle Art CIC brought creativity and community spirit to life through a special workshop at Refugee Action, Bradford, facilitated by Ruth Agbolade. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as 17 participants, made up of refugee families — both adults and children — gathered to explore how recycled materials could be transformed into meaningful works of art. What made the day unique was not just the making of art, but the way creativity became a shared language that connected people from different backgrounds.
The workshop was designed as more than an art session — it was a safe space for self-expression, resilience, and healing. Families came together around stories of strength and identity, using artistic activities to reflect on personal journeys while building collective bonds. The children’s playful imaginations blended beautifully with the adults’ reflective voices, turning the session into a colorful tapestry of hope, memory, and creativity.
The workshop left participants with a sense of joy, belonging, and pride, proving once again how creativity and sustainability can come together to heal, empower, and inspire communities.
Workshop Objectives
- Use art as a tool to express stories of resilience.
- to share stories of resilience and identity and collect qualitative feedback for next week’s personalized sculpture building.
- Foster connection and shared identity through collective creativity.
- Provide a welcoming space for self-expression and emotional healing.
Summary of Activities
- Informal introduction of participants and project
- Project PowerPoint slides and prompts for sample responses
- Warm-up discussion on ‘resilience’, ‘home’, and emotional strength.
- Group sharing and reflection circle.
Facilitator Observations
- Participants supported one another. Some had relatable stories of resilience
- One participant needed extra help due to language barrier or confidence.
- Participants cheered each other and helped one another to engage in the session and build confidence.
- They were looking forward to taking the mic and answering questions
- They used the prompts on the slides to answer the questions