糖心原创vlog

A journey around the world and a non-profit in Lambeth

When Julie left her Yorkshire home, aged 17, she headed south to the Big Smoke. Alone in London, she wasn鈥檛 sure what to do next. College and university were off the cards, not from a lack of education, but from a lack of guidance. Fortunately, Julie wasn鈥檛 one for giving up.

Determined to make the most out of a bad situation, she decided to see the world. With only a tote bag and a few belongings to her name, she travelled to South America, India, Africa and Asia for almost 10 years 鈥� working where she could to make ends meet. Her experiences were wholly unique, but one common aspect began to emerge. In each community, she was drawn to local folk art, rekindling that passion from her childhood. Julie explains: 鈥淭hese communities put a huge importance on folk art. It was a way to celebrate their culture and religion. A way to express themselves.鈥�

During these years, Julie also became increasingly interested in giving back to local communities. Julie comments: 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 happy sitting on a beach and sunbathing in my own time. I wanted to be doing something, rather than travelling for travel鈥檚 sake. I got really involved. In Nepal, I set up a school. In India, I set up an arts club. In Mexico, I ran a programme with children.鈥�

After 10 years, she returned to London, where she completed a degree and PGCE in community arts and education. Subsequent years saw Julie work with a global clientele of arts organisations, demonstrating her wealth of knowledge and experience. Julie was ready for a job where she could help people through art, and so that鈥檚 what she did. Julie identified a need for support alongside co-founders Elinor Seath and Danielle-Lees Smith. Together, they created charity Art4Space. The idea to deliver art and creativity as a therapeutic tool harks back to Julie鈥檚 childhood and her experiences with indigenous tribes.

Without government funding, setting up a charity wasn鈥檛 easy. Julie鈥檚 experience in running charitable schemes was pivotal in the early days 鈥� a time when Art4Space HQ was a Hackney flat. Then, after running a standout mosaic workshop in Kingston, Art4Space received its first funding: A small grant of 拢500. The rest is history. 

Fixing a problem by fitting a kitchen

Twenty-three years on, it鈥檚 2021, and Art4Space鈥檚 impact has reached far and wide, with over 40,000+ direct beneficiaries since opening. But there was a problem. Lambeth Council asked Art4Space to expand its services as part of a wider change in the area. The council wanted the non-profit to provide more for children and young people, including nutrition and cooking classes, and the provision of a hot meal.

Richy Walker, now a non-executive director at Art4Space and 糖心原创vlog senior technical services manager at the time, encountered Julie through several community partnerships. A Lambeth resident himself, Richy was always impressed by Art4Space鈥檚 work, leading him to put the non-profit in touch with 糖心原创vlog. 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 first collaboration with Art4Space saw them run two workshops for Ukrainian refugees. It was during these workshops that Richy and Jason Lashley, social value advisor at 糖心原创vlog, learned about Art4Space鈥檚 problem: It needed a kitchen.

Eager to help, Richy and Jason sourced sponsors and donations, gathering support from 8Build, Gloster and MSK. Everyone chipped in 鈥� and not just with money. Manpower from each organisation joined 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 team in fitting out a brand-new kitchen for Art4Space. The best bit? It came at zero cost to Art4Space.

Thanks to the new kitchen, Art4Space met the council鈥檚 requests, but that鈥檚 not all. It enabled the non-profit to receive more funding than ever before, which meant they could support more people . Before the refit, Art4Space was caring for 350 kids / people a week. Now, they鈥檙e caring for over 600.

The kitchen also allows Julie and the team to open doors after dark. This means they can run evening and weekend workshops, as well as popular events for the community . In addition to the new cooking facilities, Art4Space recently opened a pocket garden for food growth. This was the result of new seed funding, which helps the non-profit offer even more to Lambeth locals. For example, young people under the creative pathways training scheme can not only express themselves through art, but learn to cook, grow food, and more.

As the week of the kitchen fit out came to a close, Richy, relaxing at home, received a call from Julie out of the blue. Answering the phone, she tearfully remarked: 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at the kitchen for the first time and I鈥檓 overwhelmed because it鈥檚 so beautiful.鈥� Looking back, Richy comments: 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best social value exercises we鈥檝e ever done.鈥�

Art4Space today 鈥� the creative heart of Lambeth

Gemma, a member of the Art4Space team, has lived in Lambeth all her life. With a background in teaching, specifically education for individuals with special needs, she鈥檚 always wanted to help nurture and educate people. When she first encountered Art4Space, Gemma knew it was the place for her. A perfect blend of education and arts, something she鈥檚 loved since a young age. When Gemma was a teenager, her mum became unwell. Gemma took a central caring role and turned to art as a creative home outlet. It was a way for her to be expressive and care for her mum simultaneously.

Keen to use art to help others, Gemma created a peer support service with the help of Julie. Together, they submitted a bid to the Lambeth Wellbeing Fund, with Art4Space being the host organisation for Gemma. One of many services on offer at the charity, the peer support service runs across five local GPs to offer 10 weeks of art therapeutic connection 鈥� a form of social prescribing. Gemma describes: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an alternative to modern medicine. You might bring it in before a prescription if someone鈥檚 struggling. Perhaps they need someone to talk to; an outlet.鈥� Like many of Art4Space鈥檚 services, there鈥檚 no care funding . It鈥檚 only through Gemma and Julie鈥檚 sheer graft that the peer support exists.  

Other thriving schemes include a children鈥檚 programme in the holidays, which was made possible by the new hot food provision, commission projects around the world, and their ever-successful outreach activities, including workshops. Their work doesn鈥檛 only help younger generations. Schemes for every age group are an offer. Gemma鈥檚 oldest participant? An 84-year-old lady.

Art4Space has grown so much since opening the kitchen, which enhances everything the staff do. In January 2024, they decided to expand by acquiring two new adjacent units. This comes at a critical time for the community, with demand increasing with every day. 

While planning her succession, Julie reflects on the past 25 years: 鈥淚t takes a team. I have to thank my co-workers Ellie and Danny, who have now moved on. Throughout this whole journey, it鈥檚 always been about the staff and the team. I want to thank every single person who鈥檚 come through this door and helped to shape our services. It鈥檚 a shared passion and a shared accomplishment.鈥�

For Gemma, there鈥檚 nothing but gratitude for Julie and the team, commenting: 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful to be working for such a fantastic organisation. We truly are a team. Julie has provided all staff with fantastic opportunities. She trusts us with responsibility, enabling us to run with autonomy, trust and flair鈥�. 

With the new extended units on the way, Art4Space鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 end here. The non-profit strives to become the leading arts centre in South London. Julie says: 鈥淲e鈥檙e dedicated to providing mental health support for learning and life as we move forward together.鈥� Collaboration between 糖心原创vlog and Art4Space is only getting started, too. More collaborative projects in the pipeline, this story 鈥� a lifetime in the making 鈥� has many chapters yet to come. 

Art4Space鈥檚 ultimate aim is to promote sustainable change through the power of art. The team operates out of its local community arts centre in Lambeth and further afield 鈥� engaging in outreach services on a regular basis. Art4Space believes in content that connects, moves and engages individuals through diverse workshops, training schemes and projects. Award winners for its cost-fee community programmes, Art4Space provides a unique blend of design thinking, green skills and a holistic wellness model to empower and develop creative skills, problem-solving abilities, and resilience. These disciplines are taught by experienced artists and teachers, with specialisms in textiles, mosaics and ceramics, including traditional craftsmanship for sustainable practice.

You can learn more about by heading to its website 鈥� simply follow the link.

Published on the 15th of March 2024.