Reflecting on 2023: The Art of Inclusion
During 2023, Nurture Community CIC proudly delivered and promoted over 200 events, with the majority taking place in person. This marked a significant shift as we observed growing comfort with in-person activities. At the same time, Nurture expanded its reach through grant-funded and corporate social responsibility outreach projects, deepening our relationships with multi-generational and inclusive organizations.
This year, Nurture continued to serve as a catalyst for projects rooted in intergenerational collaboration, sustainability, and environmental consciousness, while also strengthening partnerships with local charitable organizations to support vulnerable members of the community. We also extended our online personal development offerings to businesses within our community, ensuring broader access to personal growth opportunities.
We proudly collaborated with 32 community-based organizations, including Brand Remarkable, The Little Green Frog, The Balance Collective, Fun Club Hub CIO, Omega Outdoor Adventures, Transition Lichfield, The Repair Café, Worship Worth Experiences, and many others. These partnerships enabled us to deliver inclusive, accessible projects to a wide range of beneficiaries, from families to those facing barriers to participation due to disability or lack of awareness.
The Art of Inclusion – A Community Tapestry of Expression
One of the most impactful projects of the year, The Art of Inclusion, funded by We Love Lichfield, brought together a cross-section of the local community, involving multigenerational and mixed-ability participants. Over 500 people were encouraged to express themselves by creating individual craft tapestries that represented their identity. Using materials like recycled magazines, reused craft items, and incorporating Makaton signs (such as gentle, self-confident, and intelligent), each person contributed a tapestry square reflecting their personal story.
These tapestry squares were sewn together to create stunning panels that were displayed at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre until November 2023. This project fostered a deeper self-awareness among participants, sparked new conversations and connections, and encouraged reflection on who they are and what they enjoy.
The facilitators also collected insights from participants about what they wanted from their community, leading to the creation of community space maps. These maps, distributed during the Fuse Festival (which saw 15,500 visitors) and beyond, highlighted 20 community spaces across the WS13 and WS14 areas, providing valuable resources for support and gathering. The legacy of this project will continue through the use of these maps in fostering community engagement.
Collaborative and Inclusive Impact
Throughout 2023, we worked with various groups to support fun, stress relief, and community building. These groups included Rocklands School, Fun Club Hub CIO, Ukrainians of Lichfield, One Lichfield, Lichfield Repair Café, The Little Green Frog Café, Five Spire Academy, and Pauline Quirk Academy (PQA), all representing a rich mix of generations, faiths, abilities, ethnicities, and nationalities.
On June 22nd, 2023, we celebrated The Art of Inclusion with a showcase event, featuring dramatic performances from students at PQA. These performances, inspired by the themes of inclusion and perspective-sharing, captivated the 150 attendees. The event also featured speeches from Nurture’s Co-Founders, who shared the impact of the project and highlighted the essential role our community partners play in making Lichfield a more inclusive, supportive place.
Together, we have continued to break down barriers and bring communities closer, making 2023 a year to remember. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported our mission to foster inclusion and connection through art and community action.
