Working with participants in two groups – 16-25 year olds and those aged over 55 – from diverse cultural backgrounds, living or working in Croydon, Stanley Arts will lead on an intergenerational arts activism project exploring what freedom means to its local communities. With a focus on food, conversation and expressive creativity and performance, participants will have the chance to meet new people, have their voices heard, learn creative facilitation skills and coaching techniques, meet artists, and work towards public community events that they will design and curate.

Partners on the project will include South Norwood community kitchen, Living Record (a mental health support service for young people aged 14-25), CAYSH (a charity supporting vulnerable and homeless young people), Care4Calais (supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the local area), Aim Higher (a Croydon-based youth charity), St John’s Church, Age UK, and Croydon BME Forum. Local schools, day care centres, and participants of previous Stanley Arts engagement projects will also be invited to get involved.