Art Cafe
The Pitch
Problem statement
The Art Café addresses the urgent need for skills development and employment readiness among asylum seekers residing in the Brent Cross area. These individuals face language barriers, social isolation, and lack of pathways into creative sectors, limiting their ability to integrate and find work. The Art Café bridges this gap through weekly workshops focused on Art, English, and British Culture. Participants gain practical skills, build confidence, and enhance employability, preparing them for future roles in creative industries while fostering community connection and cultural integration.
Solution
The solution is to deliver 22 weekly, 2-hour Art Café workshops from January to June for 30 asylum seekers aged 16+ . These sessions, led by a professional artist and facilitator, will focus on developing creative skills, enhancing English language proficiency, and gaining insights into British culture. The workshops are designed to improve participants' employability, especially in creative sectors such as art, design, and community arts. By fostering skills like communication, teamwork, and creative thinking, participants will be better equipped for job opportunities, volunteering, or further training. All materials are provided to ensure full engagement and hands-on experience.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
WE RESTART is ideally positioned to deliver this project due to our established and ongoing work in temporary accommodations within several boroughs in London. Currently, we support 500 adults and 110 children among asylum seekers through similar programmes. Our extensive experience in delivering arts-based education, language skills development, and employability training uniquely equips us to provide tailored workshops focused on preparing participants for careers in creative industries. Our trusted relationships with local authorities and community partners ensure our programmes effectively address the needs of asylum seekers, empowering them to become job-ready.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Art class for adults (£150 per workshop and preparation for 22 weeks) | £3,300 |
| Art materials for 30 participants, £ 50 each for the whole course (color, brishes, canvas average cost per person) | £1,500 |
| Stationery materials (approx £2.50 per person per 22 workshops) | £1,100 |
| Admin (1 person £ 20 per hour for 3 hours a week) | £1,320 |
| Travel expenses for 2 volunteers (£5.25 per person per week - bus only) | £231 |
| Contingecy | £49 |
Beneficiaries
30 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
The Art Café will have a transformative impact on 30 asylum seekers aged 16+ living in the Brent Cross area. Over the course of 22 workshops, participants will build creative skills, enhance English proficiency, and gain deeper knowledge of British culture, which will support their integration and increase their employability in creative fields. The programme aims to boost participants' confidence, language abilities, and social connections, reducing isolation and enhancing well-being. Measurable targets include: 80% of participants reporting improved English skills. 75% demonstrating greater confidence in creative expression. 70% feeling more connected to British culture and their community. We will collect feedback through surveys and facilitator assessments to monitor progress and continuously improve the programme.
Track record
In previous projects, WE RESTART has successfully delivered arts-based workshops to over 500 adults and 110 children in temporary accommodations. For example, in our Art Café for asylum seekers in Brent, 85% of participants reported improved English language skills, and 78% felt more connected to their new community. A participant in our Wembley workshops shared, "These sessions helped me find my voice and feel more at home in the UK." Additionally, our project at the A.R.I.A. Hub for refugee artists saw 70% of participants go on to exhibit their work publicly, showcasing how creative expression can lead to empowerment. We consistently gather data through surveys and assessments, and previous feedback shows that 80% of participants felt more confident in their ability to integrate into British society after attending our workshops. This proven impact demonstrates our ability to deliver transformative, arts-based education.