Working with the Deeplish Community Centre during 2024’s February half-term brought the diverse communities of Milkstone & Deeplish together in fun, creative workshops. These workshops are part of our National Lottery Know Your Neighbourhood-supported project, Reclaim The Space, which is coordinated by Cartwheel’s Stronger Communities Coordinator, Steve Beal. Cartwheel Arts is working with communities in Darnhill, Spotland & Falinge and Milkstone & Deeplish.
Deeplish families and individuals worked with artist Alex Blakey to create beautifully decorated planters. The planters have been decorated with the words of local people and images of the community and places in Deeplish, including the local mosque.
Reclaim The Space included a series of creative consultations developed in partnership with Deeplish Community Centre. We found that the community desired more green space in their local area.
The community’s words were ‘harvested’ in a series of writing workshops facilitated by Salma Khaled, Shamila Irim and local poet Seamus Kelly. Two poems were written in collaboration with children at Deeplish Primary School and women aged 50+ at Deeplish Community Centre; these have been used to inspire the words and art painted on the planters.
The planters will be seeded with flowers and veggies, which will grow and flower this summer. We’re excited to see what comes up!
We captured the voices of children and parents during the workshops. Here’s what they had to say:
“I am having more fun than my kids!”
“I used to do so much art in college, but after I got married and had kids, I forgot about it. I got the chance to do something today, and I want to do more!”
“I don’t have time to do these things during school times, half term is good for parent and children’s activities.”
“The artist is so good with children. She is patient and explained everything so well to my children.”
Working together to bring more nature to the streets, Reclaim The Space connects Deeplish communities, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness and grow community pride.
Watch this space for more news about Reclaim The Space, as we’ve got some more exciting projects coming up!
Partnership with organisations and communities
Reclaim The Space is funded by the National Lottery Know Your Neighbourhood fund to support projects in Darnhill, Milkstone & Deeplish and Spotland & Falinge. These communities are often furthest away from the kind of creative opportunities that enhance well-being.
Cartwheel Arts is delighted to be working closely with partner community organisations to develop creative projects and volunteering opportunities.
Reclaim The Space’s partners include Action Together, Rochdale Youth Service, Maverick Lab and the New Pioneers project, faith groups, schools, and voluntary organisations, which range from community centres and groups and food banks.