Category: Latest Blog

  • NDA 2014 – Voices Where Heard

    Olley Edwards copyTo be shortlisted for the 2014 National Diversity Awards is a spectacular honour. I really did not let myself think for one second that I would be shortlisted down to last 5 in Disability role model from 21k nominations, I recall finding out via social media and friends saying well done, but it was the first I knew about it. I obviously check my notifications more often than my emails as sure enough when I checked emails I had the one I thought would never arrive, that I had been shortlisted. I rang my mother and jumped around rather like a salamander on hot coals for about an hour.

    Winning the award itself did not occur, and I am sure I speak on behalf of all the shortlisted nominees , taking home the NDA itself was a secondary thought, the actual gift and award we all felt that evening, and still now is that the awareness of the cause we have been working tirelessly to promote and the people who we are trying so utterly hard to give a voice to, was ,heard. That for me was the real award.

    I still work to raise awareness of females on the Autistic spectrum and to enable them to be recognised , supported and safeguarded. I have a new film in post production to be finished early 2015 that follows my own, late,adult diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome.

    Autism women Matter advocacy group were invited  to the United Nations were I gave a speech about Autistic girls and women and we have also just returned from Marrakesh World human rights forum just a few weeks ago .

    I am now one of the panel members on the advisory board of Cambridge universitys autism and motherhood research.

    Id like to thank the NDAs for all they do for all change and diversity in the UK, so proud to have been a small part of it.

  • Dilys Price , Director -Touch Trust

    Dilys-Price-OBEIt  is exactly twelve weeks since I had the inspiring  experience of being a winner  at the 2014 National Diversity Awards in London.

    I met so many beautiful and amazing people that night. It made me realize that those of us who care about celebrating diversity ,about  helping those for whom the playing field of life is not equal   –are not  lone voices in the wilderness- however that can seem when we are  at home fighting and daring to change things in this capitalist world we live in.

    We have power and the power is to  be able to resist becoming fearful , defeated, passive,  sheep like conformists  and to  robustly search out truth and compassion and kindness .Coming together  that evening I felt the strength of love and beauty of so many different groups ,all fighting for different aspects a shared  vision. I felt invigorated and renewed .

    Things change because of people .

    Reading  about Nelson Mandela ,I was reminded that the Apartheid Laws came into being as recently as 1948 until1994- Mandela changed all  that; Wilberforce fought and won against the established fact of slavery ; the Wright brothers had the impossible task of making a lump of metal fly…..they all  made  “ the impossible” possible. Who would have thought that others would follow to make air transport ordinary  or that  America would have a black President?

    Miracles are waiting to happen ,waiting for us to believe in the impossible and  to commit ourselves  in action  and thought to our dream of a better world..

     I believe  that positive energy has a positive result ,some where, somehow ,some way .This is based on the geological Explosion ( Chaos) Theory  and is a  geological fact .It may not happen at the time you expect,  the place you expect , the form you expect ,but we pioneers   have adopted  this truth   into our lives.  In our lives of commitment to  ethical change ,it is something we need to  remember – it will help  to keep that sacred flame burning – and it will bring   about miracles!  Although it  may  not  be exactly when ,where or how we expected.; (incidentally this is a useful  lesson for our egos,)it will always bring about positive results.

    On another note ( though linked ,)we have just had two beautiful events –our Touch Trust Christmas Ball and our Touch Trust College of the Arts( post nineteen ,transitional) end of term Christmas  party .Neither cost a lot to put on .For the Ball  I wore my £5 charity shop gown and £1 pearls and was dressed ‘ to the nines’ ,as were all the other carers ,parents and friends. Nobody was drinking much as the alcohol was too expensive. The place buzzed with joy , happiness , fun and energy .The photographer  ,Paul Fears ,parent of Greg ( see photos) gave his time free .The staff of St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay  went out of their way for us and the singers of two choirs brought beautiful us beautiful music . .We raised £1000 .You could feel the happiness – you could cut it .This is good living   ,giving and  receiving ,helping and being kind .

    Compare that with the big super markets ,( a subtle,wicked  twist here ), where wonderful  music   is playing in their stores  getting the happy endorphins  rising ,adverts  are  shown in our homes appealing  to our five  basic “needs”, including the need to give ! And what they really want is  for us to succumb to  their central message that buying is the best way to the good life ; they see us as   ‘ consumer objects’,  fodder for their profit.

    Touch Trust 10th Anniversary Ball-9767

    So lovely people ,keep up the passion ,be happy ,look after yourself –you are needed for the fight –   be strong and love who you are  so that you can love others.

    My gifts  for 2015;-

    • Every day look in the mirror and say “I am a genius “

    It will make you laugh( that’s a start ) –but  you are- and gradually that knowledge  will change your life .

    • Spend five minutes a day  thinking of something  beautiful, listening to something beautiful ,looking at something beautiful. ( Goethe)
    • “We are here  to provide for all those who are weaker and hungrier, more battered and crippled than ourselves. That is our only good and certain purpose on earth.”

                                                                 Michael Foot (Labour MP)

    Marketing-Christmas-Poster

  • The UK’s largest Diversity Awards to be televised

    NDA-TV-Mail-Chimp-Header-copyThe UK’s only digital television channel devoted to communities will broadcast The National Diversity Awards 2014 courtesy of Sky, on Sunday 21st December at 11.00pm

    Join Brian Dowling and Cerrie Burnell to celebrate the Best of British Diversity over the festive season. The glittering ceremony will be aired on Sunday 21st December at 11pm, Boxing Day at 10.00pm and 30th December at 21.00pm on The Community Channel.

    Role models and charities flocked to the lush Hurlingham Club on the brink of the River Thames on September 26th, to honour Britain’s most inspirational people for their fight against inequality.

    Over 21,000 nominations and votes were received this year paying tribute to grassroots communities nationwide. Microsoft were just one of the brands supporting a skyfall of diversity talent – positive role models, community organisations and businesses from the LGBT, ethnic minority, age, gender, religion and disability communities.

    Big Brother star Brian Dowling expressed his delight ‘What an incredible evening! Once again The National Diversity Awards amazed me; Bringing together people from all walks of life and standing out as the equality event of the year!’

    The evening was kicked off by founder of the NDA’s, Paul Sesay; Sesay discussed the importance of the National Diversity Awards and spoke about what inspired him to create the ceremony. As passionately as ever, Sesay said “It is an honour to witness the extraordinary journeys of Britain’s unsung diversity heroes, I know another fantastic spectacle of role models will be delivered and recognised this year.” The ceremony, without a doubt, delivered on that promise.

    Activist and Campaigner, Peter Tatchell, a patron for the awards, then let the audience know why the awards were special to him “It is a huge honour to be a patron of the National Diversity Awards, which does such outstanding work to promote, empower, profile and acknowledge organisations that are pioneering amazing initiatives on equality and diversity issues.”

    Another highlight of the evening came when Stephen Sutton MBE was honoured with the Special Recognition Award, collected by his older brother Chris Sutton. There was not a dry eye in the building as guests were reminded of Stephen’s courageous efforts in raising over £4 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust while in his fight against the disease. Stephen lost his battle with cancer earlier this year but leaves behind him a legacy which will inspire many others to do amazing things in their lives.

    Campaigners Jack Monroe and Adam Pearson joined ‘The Last Leg’ comedians, Alex Brooker and Adam Hills, as well as Paralympic medallist Ade Adepitan to recognise true diversity.

    Tune in at 11.00pm on Sunday 21st December to find out which nominees took home the diversity gong of the year.

    The National Diversity Awards will also be aired on Boxing Day at 10.00pm and 30th December at 21.00pm on the Community Channel, which features on Sky 539, Virgin Media 233 and Freeview 63. 

    For updated news please visit: www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk 

  • Where Is Justice And Equality For LGBT Asylum Seekers In The UK?

    Aderonke Apata copySeeking asylum is not a crime but a fundamental human right as enshrined in the United Nations Human Rights Convention 1951 Charter (UNHCR) that guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere.

    Gradually, this basic human right to safety is becoming elusive to anyone fleeing persecution of any sort that qualifies them as a refugee under the UN Convention the world over. More worrying is the systematic approach of the United Kingdom in shirking her responsibility towards this human right Charter that she’s a signatory to!

    In over 77 countries around the world which Africa is the most in number, being a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) is a criminal offence punishable by life imprisonment, whereas it carries death penalty in some, such as in some part of Nigeria.

     It is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, in these homophobic countries, LGBTs are not able to get state protections against persecutions that they suffer as a result of whom they love and subsequently flee their countries in search of sanctuary to countries such as the UK.

    Abundantly and sadly so are the layers of discriminations and persecutions that LGBT asylum seekers face in the UK. There is a culture of disbelief by the Home Office interviewers; this is seen in the rate of LGBT asylum applications’ refusal of over 93%; this is higher than the overall refusal of all other asylum application claims. Over half of refused claims are granted in the appeal court afterwards.

    Indiscriminate indefinite detention of asylum seekers is on the rise in the UK which means people are further subjected to torture. The routine use of the Detained Fast Track (DFT) which seeks to determine outcomes of cases within 2 weeks whilst people are kept in detention centres and expected to provide evidences in support of their claims is commonly applied in LGBT asylum applications. Most individuals claiming sanctuary due to their sexual orientation have at one time or the other been incarcerated in their country of origin by agents of state and or non state agents when outed. The DFT is a ploy to deport as many people as quickly as possible.

    Missing the Mark, a report that was published by the UKLGIG in October 2013 analysed in details the quality of decision-making in LGBTI asylum claims including various challenges such as inappropriate and sometimes humiliating questions and many barriers in ‘proving’ their sexuality due to an artificially high standard of proof LGBT people continue to experience.

    LGBT asylum seekers are further subjected to a barrage of psychological, mental, emotional, physical  and institutional abuse. The UK Border Agency filled with underbelly Government’s tactics to meeting its immigration targets and caps was widely reported to have been asking LGBT asylum seekers intrusive and insidious questions about their sexual behaviours and not their sexual orientation.

    An article published in the Observer newspaper on 9 February 2014 which quoted some very sexually explicit questions that had been asked in an asylum interview raised the dust. Followed by this incredible Channel 4 report. The commissioning of a review of The Home Office’s handling of sexual orientation asylum claims by The Home Secretary in March 2014 was announced. The Home Secretary stated the system was flawed.

    An online petition was launched following this announcement which generated over 300,000 signatures Urging The Secretary of State to halt all deportations of LGBT asylum seekers pending the review. It is worth noting however, that since the petition signatures were delivered to the Government, no LGBT asylum seeker has been reported to have been deported; although there has been a case or two of threatened deportations but never resulted in eventual deportation.

    The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, John Vine CBE QPM conducted the investigation and published its findings in October 2014. The Chief Inspector, amongst other things found that:

    Over a tenth of interviews did contain questions of an unsatisfactory nature“.

    I found some stereotyping of applicants in about a fifth of substantive interviews“.

    The following, were some of the recommendations to the Home Office for improvement made by the Chief Inspector:

    1. Improves training so that stereotyping and stereotypical expectations of LGB activity and

    lifestyle do not appear in interview questions.

    2. Ensures that caseworkers do not ask sexually explicit questions, and equips them with the

    interviewing skills to cope professionally when sexually explicit responses are received.

    3. Provides more detail about the DSSH model in its training for caseworkers so that it can contribute to the quality of interviewing.

    The Difference, Stigma, Shame and Harm model put together to the United Nations by the 2014 Legal aid Barrister of the Year, S Chelvan. Details of the findings and recommendations can be found here.

    I welcome the report of The Chief Inspector, however there are still questions to be answered around what happens to all of the previous LGBT asylum seekers’ applications that were decided during the flawed system?

    The level of injustices faced by LGBT asylum seekers in the UK cannot be quantified. Peter Tatchell, the Director of The Peter Tatchell Foundation highlighted it all here when he was speaking on the UK government abuse of LGBTI refugees fleeing persecution at Leicester Secular Society on 26 October 2014.

    Similarly Paul Dillane, the Executive Director of UKLGIG couldn’t have said enough when he  recently warns at an interview, Going Underground: LGBTI discrimination that LGBTI people face discrimination at the hands of government and courts.

    Of utmost and immediate concern is the undocumented and unreported Domestic Violence experiences and challenges that LGBTI asylum seekers and immigrants face in the hands of their partners. As a result of the pressure and burden of proof on them to ‘prove’ their sexuality to the Home Office in order to secure sanctuary in the UK, they are forced to endure all forms of domesticated abuse and violence that could be imagined. The undocumented are scared to come forward and report to police for fear of being picked up and deported back to their countries. Likewise those that are in the process of their asylum application; which could last as much as over one year to determine are stuck in such oppressive and abusive relationships for fear of not having a partner to ‘prove’ their sexuality. The work of Broken Rainbow UK, the LGBT Domestic Violence Charity to encompass LGBT asylum seekers and immigrants couldn’t be coming at a better time.

    Aderonke Apata

  • A true recognition and celebration of diverse heroes and heroines in our community!

    Aderonke Apata copyMy profound gratitude to the National Diversity Awards Group for awarding me the winner of the Positive Role Model for LGBT National Diversity Awards 2014.

    Even as an asylum seeker, the NDA recognised my hard work and relentless activism for equality and human rights especially around the plights of LGBT asylum seekers in the UK.

    As a new representative enhancing the equality agenda, the words of the NDA Host Brian Dowling, about this year’s ceremony that:

    ‘What an incredible evening! Once again The National Diversity Awards amazed me; Bringing together people from all walks of life and standing out as the equality event of the year! The nominees and winners stories were inspiring, and I know many people and organisations will benefit greatly from being recognised in such a way.’ I relate to this and true in my situation!

    On the night of the ceremony, I was appointed as one of the high profile Patrons of the Proud2Be Project that empowers all LGBT+ people to be proud of who they are in South Devon.

    The incredible Broken Rainbow UK, an LGBT Domestic Violence Charity has recently appointed me as one of their Trustee Board members to identify and empower asylum seekers who are experiencing domestic violence to come forward and access their services.

    The National Diversity Awards continues to open the doors of National recognitions of my advocacy, human rights campaigns and activism when I got nominated and included as #41 on the prestigious RainbowList2014 of 1- 101 most influential LGBT people in the UK.

    It is by no means, since I won the National Diversity Awards, the prospects of leadership has been unprecedented. I am delighted to announce that I have just been elected BAME Officer of the National committee of LGBT Labour campaigning for LGBT rights.

    To support Aderonke’s campaign, please click here

    Aderonke Apata

  • Reclaiming our place in rural areas of the country

    I grew up in a small rural village. From a very early age, I knew I was different. Being different left me feeling like I had no place in my hometown of Solihull, West Midlands and at 16 I moved 20 miles down the road, closer to the centre of Birmingham. Three years later, I came out as gay.

    I spent the following 11 years moving from city to city, believing that I was a ‘city boy’ at heart. I had no intention of moving back to a rural environment as I felt I did not belong there. In 2010, I was at a crossroads in my life and with absolutely no money, my twin brother and I, moved back to the Midlands. It was there, that together we founded Proud2Be Project.

    In 2011, we both relocated to a rural village in Devon and I realised how much our experience of growing up gay in our hometown, had inspired Proud2Be. For the first year living and working in Devon, I felt isolated and alone. There were several times when I was close to packing my bags and moving back to Brighton, where I had lived happily for several years. I didn’t feel like there was a place for me here.

    I stuck with it and through Proud2Be, had the privilege of meeting many lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans+ (LGBT+) people, who like us, faced similar battles, living in a predominantly rural area.

    Let me be clear, I do not wish to discount the experiences of LGBT+ people living in urban areas. Life in a city can be a lonely existence and prejudice and discrimination can be found and experienced in even the most ‘accepting’ of places.

    Right now, in rural areas of the country, LGBT+ people face prejudice and discrimination, the effects of which are made worse by the lack of visibility, social opportunities and support networks.

    It could be argued that these could be accessed by travelling into the city, but for some, this is made problematic by financial restraints, inaccessible venues, fear of crowds etc. Some simply do not wish to travel to the city.

    In January 2010 Equality South West launched a survey to investigate the key issues facing LGBT+ people in the South West of England. It found that one effect of living in a sparsely populated area is that in general there are too few ‘out’ LGBT+ people within close enough proximity to each other to form viable local social and support networks, or to influence or challenge local policy-makers and service providers to address LGBT+ issues.

    Inevitably all this can have a negative impact on whether or not we as LGBT+ people, choose to come out to our family, friends, neighbours and co-workers.

    For this reason, many who were born in rural areas are left feeling like there is no option but to leave and move to a city. For some, the idea of moving into a rural town and being ‘out and proud’ doesn’t even feel like an option.

    This year, we held the first pride procession in Totnes. Being a rural pride event, we were unsure how many people to expect, particularly walking through the town behind a 7ft willow butterfly! I was not only thrilled to be joined by so many other LGBT+ people but many from the wider community, who showed their support by waving flags from the pavement, volunteering as marshalls and walking with us in the procession.

    As I made my way up the main high street, holding the Proud2Be banner, chanting with the crowd “WE ARE HERE”, I felt that after many years of running away, I had finally reclaimed my place in a rural town that I now call home.

    Written by Mat Price

  • A Care Leaver Called Ben

    Ben Ashcroft copyMy name is Ben. I was taken into care after my mother abandoned us as kids a couple of weeks before Christmas.  Not surprisingly, this was the single most important thing to happen in my life up to that point. Although my brother and I were initially placed together, we were separated after just one week of being “looked after” and moved to emergency foster carers.  What was misleadingly called ‘care’ was for me actually the opposite, and resulted in the starkest changes to my behaviour and mental health. These changes eventually led to me being arrested and charged with a public order offence, a breach of the peace.

    My young life now entered a downward spiral – moving between care placements, dabbling with drugs and getting involved in crime.  The cost to me was very heavy – homelessness, trauma and emotional damage. Over the next six years I was moved 51 times to 37 different placements.  I saw and experienced them all – residential children’s homes, foster placements,  ‘structured units’, secure children’s homes,  Secure Training Centres, Young Offenders Institutions and mental health wards. I managed to accumulate 33 convictions by the time I was 17 years old. You may now begin to understand how unstable my life became when I was ‘taken into care’ and my perception of the lack of support, and the lack of any real opportunity to be in stable placements with consistent care.

    Since leaving care and crime behind me, I have had mental health issues and spent time in a Psychiatric ward. This is tragically not unique or uncommon for many care leavers, but to each one individually it is a harrowing experience.  It seems to be a path that many care leavers are destined to follow. Whether through good luck, resilience, strength of character or all of these factors, I am one of those who survived the journey. I may have been damaged, but I was not broken, and once I had dealt with the many issues stemming from my young life, I wanted to give something back and use my negative experience to help others experience a more positive one.

    Firstly, in 2012 I wrote ‘Fifty-One Moves’ detailing my care experience. I hoped to offer others a better insight into the world of care and the juvenile criminal justice system from someone who had lived in and been through it. I have worked hard over the last few years and been invited as a keynote speaker to speak at many events, conferences and annual general meetings of key organisations including speaking at Westminster, Whitehall and similarly prestigious locations. I have worked with a number of charities and organisations including the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) on a European project on alternatives to custody. I also organised and facilitated focus groups for BAAF and worked closely with the young people involved in the project.

    In December 2013, I was at the University of London working on a project with some young people who were sitting on a panel with me following a presentation I had given to some European visitors on behalf of BAAF. It was the day after new legislation was announced that declared that ‘Staying Put’, the opportunity for young people to stay in their foster placement until they were 21. This was good news and initially I celebrated. However, it soon became apparent that this new opportunity excluded about 9% of all looked after children and young people who just happened to be placed in residential children’s homes.

    All the young people with me on the panel that day, great young people who had impressed their specially invited and knowledgeable audience with their presentations, lived in children’s homes. They were visibly angry and upset that the new legislation doesn’t include them.  This wasn’t diversity – this was simply discrimination.

    How could I begin to explain to these children of the state that they were not to be afforded the same opportunity as their ‘peers’ in foster care?  Certainly not with any words in my vocabulary. This was clearly blatant discrimination against young people in residential care, a discrimination based on no fault of their own other than their living situation. I said to the young people I would do what I could about this but if I am honest not knowing what I was going to do or could do for them. I just knew I would do my best for them.

    Over the next forty eight hours myself and some other caring, committed and passionate people formed ‘Every Child Leaving Care Matters (ECLCM). Did we have a plan? Not exactly! Did we know each other?  Virtually not at all!  Are we a diverse group? Yes indeed! We included care leavers, social providers, writers, inspectors, of different ages and probably social backgrounds. The longer the campaign has gone on, the more people have joined us, and the more diverse we have become. What is ‘diversity’?

    One definition I read said that “Diversity recognises that though people have things in common with each other, they are also different and unique in many ways. Diversity is about recognising and valuing those differences. By recognising and understanding our individual differences and embracing them, and moving beyond simple tolerance, we can create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued”

    How can any right minded person regard the way this government is implementing the ‘Staying Put’ initiative as meeting this definition of diversity? How is the practice of treating looked after children leaving care differently based on where they happen to be living on their eighteenth birthday recognising each as a valued individual? Of course, it’s not. However you define discrimination that is a better word for it.

    The ECLCM Campaign group were offended at the outset and have remained offended ever since. We find it hard to comprehend that ‘our’ government can so blatantly refuse equal rights and opportunities to looked after children. The ECLCM campaign now has many thousands of supporters and followers – but not yet enough it seems to help the government accept that on this matter they are simply wrong.  Please help us to help them change their mind by supporting us.

    Let us for a moment take away all the social work theory, government policy, legislation and child care tradition accumulated over generations and summarise what is ‘good enough’ care for vulnerable children and young people. It is actually quite easy. Would I allow my children to be treated in this way? If the answer is ‘no’, then don’t treat any other child like that. We would not subject our children to 51 moves. We would not allow our child to decline into the criminal justice system and endure emotional trauma as so many looked after children have done.

    We would not allow one of our children to stay at home until they are 21 and support them closely whilst showing another the door at 16+. Would we? If the answer is ‘No’, then we have an ethical and moral duty to oppose the way this government is implementing ‘Staying Put’ and insist that this level of support is given to ALL care leavers – where ever they happen to be placed.

  • Contemporary Outsider Art: the Global Context, Melbourne University, Australia.

    Tanye Raabe23 – 25th October 2014

    As Associate Artist with Project Ability, I recently joined forces with Elizabeth Gibson, Executive Artistic Director, Project Ability, Glasgow, to collaborate on a series of Conversations with contemporary outsider artists exploring a new critical language towards the definition of their practice.

    We were very excited when we got the call to present this research at the Contemporary Outsider Art: the Global Context, Melbourne University, Australia. Trains plains automobiles and not forgetting the essential PA, booked and off we went to Australia! 

    The research involved having some of the most extraordinary enlightening and refreshing conversations with artists from Project Ability’s Re:Connect programme and Celf o Gwmpas about their own sense of self. Looking at defining a developing critical language with which to express their practice and give back ownership of their work in a contemporary outsider art landscape.

    The artists all had a great sense of pride of their artistry and a strong sense of solidarity and belonging within a creative identity. It also seemed the role of the supported studio spaces at both Project Ability and Celf o Gwmpas also play a vital piece of the jigsaw for the artists to live as practicing artists. Providing them with peer support as well as professional artistic development, accessing exhibiting opportunities home and away whilst supporting them to apply for their own project funding and providing opportunities that they may not be able to access if it weren’t for the support of these artist studios. So I began to wonder how I should represent these conversations, these ideals at a conference that would be examining contemporary outsider art from a global context. A massive ask!

    quotes from the research………..

    Sketch223183245Quote: Outsider art – I don’t think we should be on the outside should we? You are either an

    artist or you’re not, it shouldn’t matter about your disabilities

    Quote: I don’t like labels, I’m a person in my own right, but it is giving me access to exhibitions

    Quote: “Is it outside of what? What’s Insider Art then? The term ‘Outsider Art’, in terms of the sound of it… I kind of like it. I like the idea of Outsider Art. To me it’s outside of the mainstream. It’s people doing things outside of the mainstream.”

    Quote: “I would advise caution as well because there is a danger in personally

    investing in that Outsider label and saying, ‘This is it; this is the ticket for me, this

    could take me quite far’ then maybe three years down the line suddenly it’s a wilderness; there’s nothing there. So my instinct is to be cautious, but also optimism as well. It could go quite well, you know?”

    Quote: “I consider myself kind of an outsider. … I think it is a whole lot of

    mythologizing about people’s lives as well, you know, and I

    want to do that bit myself. I want to mythologize myself!”

     The conference

    The conference began!

    2014-mainstream arts institutions copyI was full of excitement and anticipation about being at the conference in Australia and presenting myself, my work as an artist and the collaborative research I’d done with Elisabeth Gibson, Director of Project Ability, Glasgow. At the conference I spent lots of time chatting, networking and listening to others in conversation whilst I captured unscreened moments of passion, will and testament of individuals and panel discussions on my drawings on my iPad.

    There were three major themes to the conference and these included The Practices of Outsider artists, Collections of Outsider Art and Curated Exhibitions plus Outsider Art History and Theory. 

    It was a heady mix of, diehard academic presentations and key note speakers and global contexts exploring arts practices in supported art studios in China, Cambodia USA Israel/UK and Australia. Which was absolutely fascinating. I was especially interested in the supported studios that were coming from totally different cultures. It seemed to me that there could still be a common theme within all of the studios presented that connected them globally. That is enthusiasm for the artistry and the artist and a commonality of supporting the artist to make the work as they do naturally. There could even be commonalities in the aesthetic of some of the work as often learning and developmental disabilities are similar globally too.

    There were also talks, panels discussions, comedic anecdotes and film screenings from artist studios and artists themselves. I really enjoyed hearing Carly Findlay talk about how she had used her experiences as a disabled woman with a facial disfigurement to create a blog and social network that supports others in a disabling world. The artists from The Dax Centre, artists with mental health identifying themselves as outsider artists, was comedic, ethereal and dam right down to earth. Brilliant! Some people found their continuous use of the word ‘mad’ un-PC! I myself saw this as a positive sign of ownership of their identity as people with a living experience of mental health and a sense of self within a disability art politic.

    I did find the opening keynote lecture by Lynne Cooke, senior curator, special Projects in modern Art National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, both mesmerising and fascinating. I was definitely intrigued by her physicality and delivery of her lecture. Whist drawing I listened to Lynne tell us about the declassification of labels in order to create an even playing field on which all artists and participants within mainstream galleries could engage equally. It was reminiscent and aspirational. As a disabled artist and self taught artist our work as outside of the mainstream could and should be seen with a focus on difference and otherness. How hard a concept can this still be for the critics, theorists, curators and artists of contemporary art to engage with? Yet we still battle to get our work seen  with a recognised discourse and on equal terms by the mainstream. A subtext running throughout was the question “Is this beginning to happen”?

    The discourse of the Outsider Artist continued to be debated with vigour throughout the conference in the corridors, queuing for tea, over lunch and well into the night. 

    We were presenting in Stream 1, PRACTICES OF OUTSIDER ARTISTS. Our session was a panel lead discussion on the topic of Outsider Art or Social Inclusion? Facilitating art, positioning the studio. 

    Sketch234183748Presentations from myself as well as, Art Enables USA, Project Ability, Glasgow, NIAD Arts Centre USA were enlightening, passionate and informative. Plus I was still seeing that common denominator that seems to be connecting us all. Enthusiasm for the artistry and the artist and a commonality of supporting the artist to make the work as they do naturally. It was interesting that some of the studios embraced the notion of Outsider Art and actively used the term as a form of artistry identity and others did not. But for me as an individual presenting myself, my art and my mentoring work with disabled artists, plus the collaboration with Project ability – I began to question what and where I was coming from. Why did I doubt myself, I’m not sure! Jet lag I think! Anyway I put my thoughts in order and told it as it is. After all I am a straight talking Yorkshire lass with a disability art politic! 

    And it worked! Our panel discussion went from disability art politics within work produce by artists in supported studios, to exploring the notions of ownership, arts practice and the rights of the artists, artworks within the supported art studios and its representation in the mainstream.

    Panel Question – ‘Tanya Are u an Outsider artist’.……was one of the questions.

    My answer was “NO! ……….My work is embedded in a disability art politic and centres around my sense of self and that of a disability identity! Therefore I see myself as an artist /disabled artist. Both identities are as important as the other.” 

    Highlights of the conference

    There were many. I enjoyed capturing many of these moments in time on my iPad whilst listening intently to the Panel discussions by Dax artists, talks from Cambodia and China Outside the frame work of western art, keynote speeches by Lynne Cooke, Prof. Colin Rhodes, James Brett of Museum of Everything, an enigma and lover of the art made by artists outside of the mainstream, “the self taught, the stuffers, the makers, the scribblers……..”

    One of the biggest highlights for me was our visit to Arts Project Ability. I completely felt at home entering into a studio with other artists creating, chatting and totally zoned in on the making of their art. Again seeing so many artistic processes and themed work that culturally connected us as artists and as disabled artists really good excited me. Wether we were outsiders or insiders it didn’t matter. It was again that commonality of just being artists that naturally connected us in that time and space!  I saw artists making work about Frieda Kahlo, Elvis and work that had colonial historical content. For me I kept this visit in my mind throughout the conference constantly drawing from it. As if it wasn’t for the existence of the artists, these natural creators the whole debate wouldn’t exist!

     So what’s next u might ask, post the conference!

    For me New partnerships are about to emerge! I’m very excited about joining forces with Anna Arstein-Kerslake, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne to develop a project on human rights of disabled people’s right to access culture. Plus I’m delving into a research and development into the commonalities and differences of supported artists practices and supported studio practices in USA, including visits to, Amy Taub from Creativity Explored and Deb Dyer from the NIAD art centre both in San Francisco and Mary Liniger from Washington.

    Our sincere thanks to Arts Project Australia and the University of Melbourne for hosting this event and to Creative Scotland for supporting our attendance.

    Drawings by Artist Tanya Raabe-Webber

    2014 institutions- galleries educations studios copy 2014 Melbourne uni Dr copy2014 panelist looks like cowboy movie star copy2014-appearance diversity blog CarlyFinlay artist copy2014-outsider art in Cambodia copy2014-the audience copySketch2341825522014-the poet Dax centre aus copySketch223192132014-Breton and the surrealists psychological outsiders copy

     

  • Saving a Life is akin to Saving the Whole of Humanity

    AMYA

    The history of Islam tells us of the well-known story of Talha Ibn Obaidullah, a wealthy businessman and an early convert to Islam, known for his kindness, his generosity and his bravery. At a time when Islam, and religion as a whole, was being attacked by an Arab society steeped in barbarism, Talha was among those who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), to save Arabia from tyranny and to enable freedom of conscience for all individuals. His fearlessness in battle was so remarkable that he would shield the Prophet from arrows with his own body, such that his arm became heavily wounded and crippled, and would carry the Prophet on his back to ease his hardship. For Talha knew that the Prophet who he was protecting was the one who preached peace and tolerance and compassion, the one who gave his soul for the sake of humanity, the mercy for all of mankind.

    Today, as a Muslim living in the West, I feel fortunate, for it is no longer my life or my limbs that I must give to save the lives of others. What is required, however, is my blood. Around 1 in 7 people entering hospital require a blood transfusion, a procedure which relies on the donation of others. Each time a person gives blood they save up to three lives, yet the tragedy remains that the rate of both blood and organ donations by ethnic minorities in the UK stands significantly lower than that of the White population. A recent telegraph article told the heartbreaking story of Aneesa Hussain, a teenage girl diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, distraught by the fact that she could not be treated due to the lack of suitable transplant matches because of the lack of donation by those from her ethnic background. Unfortunately such stories are not uncommon. As well as the evident humanitarian benefits, evidence suggests that donating blood is beneficial for the health of the donors themselves. Currently, around 4% of the UK population donate, and as mentioned this figure is significantly lower amongst ethnic minorities, leading to a shortage, especially of the B negative subtype, which is causing vast problems for those such as Aneesa, who are requiring blood.

    This is a complex issue, and must be addressed on a collective level rather than on an individual one. It is difficult to fully understand why ethnic minority donor rates are so low, but addressing the potential ideological explanations is necessary to attempt to solve the problem. Aneesa was let down by the Pakistani community, perhaps in part due to the religious perceptions surrounding donations. Islam gives extraordinary value to human life, to such an extent that the Quran teaches that ‘Whosoever killed a person…it shall be as if he had killed the whole of mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.’ (5:33). Thus the importance that is given to protecting and helping others in Islam is emphasised so ardently that saving a single individual through our efforts is regarded as equivalent to saving everyone. By denying help to Aneesa and those like her through donation, innocent young lives are being ruined by a collective failing on the part of those who could have saved them.

    Thankfully though, a light and a hope exists, for through the blood donations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association in the UK, 2500 pints of blood were donated in 2013 alone – the equivalent of saving 7500 lives. This has been a collective effort by the Community, spanning not only the UK but also other countries such as the United States, where such blood drives have reached even greater proportions in recent years. Ahmadi Muslim youths have worked tirelessly in recent years, both in donating blood and in raising awareness of the importance of doing so, seeking to collaborate with NGOs who share similar goals. The hope for the future is that all ethnic minority communities can follow in these footsteps, and that each of us individually can become the Talha of this age, giving a part of our own selves to save the lives of others.

    Written & Provided to The National Diversity Awards by Damir Rafi

  • Challenging gender stereotypes in schools

    Let Toys Be Toys copyJess Day, Let Toys Be Toys

    Children are keen to fit in and quickly pick up ideas about what’s supposedly ‘for boys’ and what’s ‘for girls’ – but this can limit what they believe they can do. Many toys and books are marketed as being for one sex or the other and children may worry if their favourite toys or hobbies challenge these stereotypical ideas. Parents and carers are often concerned that children who challenge these norms will be teased or bullied.

    The Let Toys Be Toys campaign works to challenge gender stereotyped marketing of toys and books. We’ve been approached by parents and teachers about the importance of schools, so we’ve worked with teachers to develop resources to help schools tackle stereotypes in the classroom.

    Why gender stereotypes matter in school

    Children need access to a wide range of activities and playthings for balanced development, particularly in the early years. Believing certain things are ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’ limits their opportunities, and can feed into bullying.

    As they grow older, narrow ideas of what boys and girls are like can damage children’s chances as some boys pick up the message that learning and reading is ‘unmasculine’, and girls are less likely to pursue interests in science and technology subjects that they’ve learned are ‘unfeminine’. However, research has shown that questioning stereotypes can help both boys’ and girls’ educational achievement.

    Our resources

    As well as the ‘ten tips’ below – which draw heavily on the NUT’s excellent Breaking the Mould project – we’ve produced lesson plans and drawn together links to other useful material for tackling gender issues in the classroom. See the Let Toys Be Toys schools section for more details.

    Ten ways to challenge stereotypes in the classroom

    1/ Create a safe space

    School should be a safe environment to learn and explore – you can help children by affirming unconventional choices, reassuring them that it’s OK to be different and encouraging a culture of acceptance.

    Boys [in Reception] sometimes want to wear the Princess dresses. This bothers one or two of the staff and sometimes parents object. One boy wanted to wear the Mummy Bear outfit, an apron, and mum questioned this. We encourage staff to support the children’s choices – our role is to accept what comes out of the role play.” Teacher

    2/ Challenge stereotypes when you hear them

    ‘Why can’t a boy wear pink? My Dad does.’ ‘Why can’t a girl like football? My wife plays for our local women’s team.’ Children are often very keen to ‘police’ one another and make sure their peers follow the gender ‘rules’ they’ve learned. You can set the example by questioning them, and offering counter-examples from your own experience.

    3/ Talk about stereotypes

    The Let Toys Be Toys lesson plan activities are designed to help older primary pupils start to question stereotypes about boys and girls (Key Stage 2), and we’ve pulled together links to more resources and ideas.

    4/ Provide a range of role models

    Give children real-life examples that counter stereotypes, both in your own activities, and in topic work and external visitors.

    “My daughter pointed out to me recently that all the science groups in her Y2 class are named after men. And politicians bemoan the lack of women in science without seeing any connection!” Caren

    “When I heard the new topic was ‘superheroes’ I was concerned this would be full of aggressive beefcakes ‘to get the boys interested’, but it was great. The staff made sure to include female heroes, and they looked at of different sorts of ‘heroism’ – eg a nurse, plumber.” Jane, Cardiff

    “I tell the kids that I’m the person who cooks in our house. I didn’t think of this as breaking down stereotypes until now.” Teacher

    “Where possible we also try to get visitors who challenge stereotypes so we always ask if we can have a female firefighter or police officer or a male nurse… We’re also trying to get some of our male staff to help with things like knitting club (they’re willing but need to learn the basics!) and more women playing football.” Teacher

    5/ Make the most of books

    Take a look at the stories and factual books in your classroom. Are there examples of working women, caring fathers, active girls and creative boys? Are all the animals in the stories male?

    Carefully chosen books can be very helpful in challenging stereotypes – the It’s Child’s Play report from the NUT’s Breaking the Mould project has suggestions of books with additional notes and ideas for discussion. Inclusive book retailer Letterbox Library has a great selection, including themed book packs for schools and nurseries.

    “We picked William’s Doll on purpose partly because the father is in charge at home [William’s mother is not mentioned in the story – only his Grandmother]. But we also wanted the boys to see that they can make their own choices – and to try and stop the other boys telling each other what they should be doing.” Teacher

    Labelling a bookshelf ‘Boys’ Books’ might seem like a good way to encourage reluctant boy readers, but this can be counterproductive, reminding boys of the stereotype that they are supposedly less interested in reading, and encouraging the idea that only certain interests are allowed. 

    6/ Look at who uses which spaces and equipment

    Do certain areas get dominated by certain groups, or by one gender or the other? Are there changes or movements you could make to encourage children to feel equally free to use the home corner, the reading corner, the bikes, the Lego…

    “The colour of things is very significant – often children would play with anything unless it was pink – in which case the boys wouldn’t touch it and, sometimes, the girls would be quite proprietorial about it. Perhaps we should just get rid of anything pink…” Teacher

    7/ Make sure there aren’t ‘girls’ jobs and ‘boys’ jobs

    Who gets asked to do what? Is it always ‘three strong boys’ who move the chairs? Or ‘two trustworthy girls’ who take a message? It’s easy to fall into a pattern – mix it up and try asking someone different.

    “EVERY assembly I’ve attended has had all major parts performed by girls even when they don’t need to be. Drives me CRAZY.”  Jenny, London

    “I asked some Year 4 girls to put out the chairs. They said ‘great – we never get asked to do that’ – so I think they do notice the different ways in which genders are treated.” Teacher

    8/ Pick other ways to divide up the children

    Are girls’ and boys’ coat pegs labels or lunchbag shelves coloured pink or blue? Do boys and girls line up separately? Using gender to divide the children up can be quick and convenient, but it gives them the constant message that being a boy or a girl is the most important thing about them and reinforces stereotypes. Getting the children to line up a different way – by age, birthday, alphabetically – can be a subtle but effective way of encouraging them to think about their identity in different ways.

    Encouraging children to work in mixed pairs or groups can have benefits too.

    “Working in mixed pairs and groups challenges them – they have to be more adventurous about talking and learning from each other. They stay on task more and talk in full sentences. It keeps them on their toes because it is different from the playground where they tend to play in single sex groups. Some children object but we usually find they are the ones it’s most effective with!”  Teacher

    9/ Use inclusive language

    Small changes, like saying ‘children’ instead of ‘girls and boys’ or ‘parents and carers’ or ‘families’ rather than ‘Mums and Dads’ can help to affirm the things we have in common rather than our differences.

    10/ Think about rewards and sanctions

    Are boys and girls rewarded differently, or given different sanctions for similar behaviour? Do rewards imply that you think boys and girls can’t like the same things?

    “My daughter was quite upset when ALL the boys were punished for a rowdy game that SOME of the boys had been playing. She could see it was unfair to just assume they all behave the same way. What are they supposed to learn from that?” Jane, Cardiff

    “My son’s teacher gave out end of term books, which was really nice of her, but they were wrapped in pink/blue and labelled ‘Boy’ or ‘Girl’. The boys got a dinosaur or pirate book and the girls got princesses and glitter. On the other hand my daughter’s teacher also gave out books; my daughter (7) got a science one as she loves science and the teacher had chosen them books based on their own interests, which was just brilliant. Shows how it can be done!” Jennifer, Essex

    “I thought they would complain but they didn’t [when I handed out pink and blue reward stickers randomly]. I realised that I was the one who, unconsciously, had been affirming stereotypes about pink and blue.” Teacher

    For more information please visit lettoysbetoys.org.uk/schools