REACH OUT is a Women in Neighbourhood (WiN) project which seeks to engage women from a variety of cultural backgrounds through the medium of art.
The project has received National Lottery funding and is coordinated by Gulnaz Brennan, Founder & Chair of WiN, working with team leaders Jenny Vining, Wendy Ann, Urvashi Tulsidas and Anna Kinley.
The launch, at the Great Lever Connected in Calvert Road, was well-attended and enthusiastically received. Gulnaz introduced the project, which is about mosaic creation, with a central theme of Women. Jenny gave a demonstration, encouraging participation and practice while introducing the project and discussing the materials and techniques involved. Various workshops and sessions were held at All Souls Church and several other community venues.
Our theme of Women was chosen because women are often the unsung heroes of day to day life in our cities, towns and villages. Women play an important role in developing community cohesion and transforming loosely linked neighbourhoods into true communities. Women are natural communicators and networkers and can use their combined voices and efforts to effect positive change. This project is a celebration not just of the ancient art of mosaics and Beadwork but of the efforts of countless women who have contributed to the integration and harmony that characterises the richly diverse communities of which our great town is comprised.
Materials and support were provided to different groups and individuals taking part in REACH OUT. The aim of the project was to develop a collection of artistic works which celebrate cultural diversity whilst also unifying those who participate in the project through their work on the project. It is hoped that communities in Bolton will benefit from the results of these endeavours, with a range and style of mosaics adding to the town’s growing collection of artistic works, reflecting its rich and varied cultural history.
Women in Neighbourhood (WiN) is about women empowerment, created specifically for the women of Bolton. WiN provides safe spaces, a voice and a support network for women looking to connect with each other, seek support, share skills and work collaboratively.
WiN works with women groups across Bolton. Some of these women suffer from high levels of exclusion, bullying, emotional/social/family issues, low self confidence, and often have no aspirations for their future. WiN gives them the opportunity to break the cycle of deprivation and low self esteem and to develop to their full potential.
WiN uses Asset Based Community Development principle and a combination of formal and informal education activities engage and educate women from under- represented and under-privileged backgrounds. all being actively engaged in learning and developing new skills, improving literacy, numeracy and language, developing increased confidence and self esteem, and to develop enterprise or vocational skills. WiN is committed to motivating young girls and women to engage in education, employment or training (formal and informal) and giving themselves better opportunities for the future.