Sampad are delighted to be part of the BEDLAM Arts & Wellbeing Partnership alongside Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Midlands Arts Centre, and The Red Earth Collective. Supported by £196,180 from the Inclusive Communities Fund, BEDLAM 2024 has allowed Sampad to expand on projects that address mental health and wellbeing through creative expression. These initiatives, which range from dance workshops for South Asian elders to creative sessions with marginalised communities, will culminate in a December showcase. Here’s a look Sampad’s progress so far.
Let’s Dance
In October 2023, Sampad ran a pilot for Let’s Dance, a four-week workshop series in collaboration with Apna Ghar, a South Asian elder daycare centre and Ghulab Ashram, a South Asian elder shelter. This pilot aimed to bring the joy and physical benefits of dance to elder participants, introducing them to South Asian dance styles like Bharatnatyam, Bhangra, Kathak, and Bollywood.
Following the pilot’s success, Let’s Dance has been expanded to offer year-long weekly sessions across three Birmingham sites: Ghulab Ashram, Grounded Café, Edgbaston Ladies Group, Handsworth Library, and Pannel Croft Retirement Village. Organised into three 10-week blocks, these sessions provide seniors with consistent, gentle exercise and joyful expression through South Asian dance. Additionally, each workshop is co-led by an experienced practitioner and a ‘shadow’ practitioner, allowing emerging dance leaders to gain experience working with elder populations.
Since September, 19 dance sessions have been held, reaching many participants. For many, Let’s Dance is their first opportunity to engage in dance and movement, creating a space that promotes both physical and emotional well-being.
Get Creative
Partnering with Birmingham MIND, Sampad launched a series of arts workshops within MIND’s Wellbeing Hubs, focusing on community-driven art forms for improved mental health. Workshops began with introductory taster sessions across different art forms, from poetry to pottery and will conclude with a single art form for more intensive exploration.
At the Handsworth Hub, participants have been learning sewing and knitting with artist Nilupa Yasmin, preparing for the upcoming BEDLAM exhibition. Meanwhile, in Selly Oak, Nafeesa Hamid and Hassan Hussain have led sessions in creative writing and poetry. These projects offer a safe space for participants, fostered by MIND’s Community Development Workers, to use art as a form of self-expression and resilience-building.
Journey LGBTQI+ Refugee & Asylum Seeker Group
Since 2022, Sampad has collaborated with the Journey Group, an inclusive support group for LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers, offering them a creative outlet. This year’s program has focused on identity exploration and self-expression through diverse artistic activities, including soundscape creation, projection art and Queermap.
With five Journey Group sessions held to date, a number of members have participated in a range of workshops led by experts like assertive communication coach Shanda Fernandes, embroidery artist Abeda Begum, sound artist Iain Armstrong, and graphic designer Gayatri Pasricha. These sessions not only nurture artistic expression and prepare participants for the December BEDLAM showcase, but also foster life skills and community support, helping participants navigate their unique challenges. The final presentation will include an immersive soundscape and visual elements that reflect the diverse experiences of the group.
Sampad’s BEDLAM 2024 projects showcase the transformative potential of the arts in supporting mental health, social inclusion, and community resilience. From joyful dance sessions for elders to safe spaces for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers, these projects reflect a powerful commitment to inclusivity and community well-being. As we look toward the December showcase, the BEDLAM 2024 partnership continues to inspire, uplift, and empower marginalised communities through the unifying power of creative expression.
Image by Irina Mackie
