An Autumn Update
A blustery autumn and a chance to take stock
Hello folks, I hope you’re keeping cosy during the stormy weather. There was a lot of shingle, flotsam and sea foam on the shores of Hastings. I hope you’re safe somewhere sheltered and warm. Speaking more broadly and considering global events, I think about warmth, shelter and family daily and never take these things for granted.
This is my very first newsletter. Thank you for joining me. Expect to see some snippets of my visual scribing and graphic facilitation work alongside things I’ve been enjoying in my community, online and out and about!
Some autumn highlights so far have included:
Hastings Youth Commons
I had the pleasure of creating a vision plan with the fabulous youth work team leading Hastings Youth Commons who are embarking on transforming a derelict space in the heart of Hastings into an amazing centre for young people.
I’ll be joining young people to facilitate more visual plans going forward. It’s going to be an incredible journey. Find out more about the programme of activities and workshops for 11 - 18 year olds here.
Eggtooth
The trailblazing team at Eggtooth invited me to deliver a visioning workshop across two days for their team to hatch new ideas for their mental health services and projects in Hastings and beyond. I had fun going to town on the ‘egg’ puns in designing this one! Their free range ideas were incubated and eggs-pertise shared into a vision and strategy map for the next three years of their programme. Expect exciting things from these good eggs. OK I’ll stop now!
Hastings Advice and Representation Centre (HARC)
In my work and lived-experience as an advocate for people with learning disabilities and complex support needs, I’ve often approached HARC for advice about navigating the benefits system. Every other year HARC commission an independent client survey which helps the organisation better meet clients’ needs and plan for the future. When HARC asked me to illustrate their client survey, I knew it was going to be a challenge. The data and experiences shared made for a sobering read, proving just how vital HARC’s services are.
I hope the report lands in the hands of the people who need to read it the most.
To read the full results please follow this link https://lnkd.in/e9kwAngk
What is Curiosity?
I worked with Curious Agenda on another dreamy project to create an explainer video to launch their brand new website. I had lots of fun making this one and particularly liked illustrating the story about how the Polaroid camera came into being. It’s made me completely check myself next time a small child asks ‘but why???’
Did you know that being curious can help with so many things, like relationships, work, health and wellbeing?
Exhibitions I dig
Stored out of Sight, Hidden History of Disability at Hastings Museum on till 16 December, 2023
Turner Prize, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne on till 14 Aprils, 2023
Spooky Season
And lastly, I finally got around to re-doing our family chalkboard with a seasonal scene just in time for Halloween.
After drawing this we went to see Ed Boxall tell spooky stories at Alexandra Park Greenhouse. I must have had a premonition as one of his stories was all about a little mouse who lived in the shade of giant pumpkin during the summer (see bottom right of my picture) until one day a storm hit and he was washed out to see floating on the pumpkin! It was a delightful story and we were all captivated till the very (happy thankfully) end.
Phew! I hope you enjoyed my autumn update. Hoping winter will be as productive! Right, I’m off to get my woolly jumpers out of storage and make another brew. Till next time.