The Lit Collective Creative Writing Programme

How does food bring people together? Why don’t we go to the Peaks more, when it is just on our doorstep? Is it because we are not interested in walking or nature, or is it because we have been made to feel unwelcome there? What does it mean that some people’s claim to a home can be taken away by others, as in the case of Shamima Begum? We wanted to think about these questions and more, while also encouraging the participants to be creative. The workshops resulted in producing a short video and anthology of poems, pictures, and general imaginings.

January 6, 2025
1:07 pm

The Lit Collective was created during the COVID 19 Lockdown, with support from the Centre for Equity & Inclusion. It provided a platform for young women of colour to come together, read books by women of colour, and engage in meaningful conversations. The girls not only enjoyed the book club and the bonds they formed but also grew in their understanding and appreciation of literature. In the second phase of the Lit Collective, our aim was to provide the girls with a platform to express themselves and engage in meaningful discussions about the concepts of home and belonging. We wanted to create a safe space where they could explore these ideas and share their unique perspectives.

In 2023 we collaborated with PhD student, Beverley Thomas, to design and deliver a creative writing workshop series. This took place in different locations around Sheffield. This was both to make the girls feel more comfortable but also to encourage them to think about how space can impact our experiences in positive and negative ways. How does food bring people together? Why don’t we go to the Peaks more, when it is just on our doorstep? Is it because we are not interested in walking or nature, or is it because we have been made to feel unwelcome there? What does it mean that some people’s claim to a home can be taken away by others, as in the case of Shamima Begum? We wanted to think about these questions and more, while also encouraging the participants to be creative. The workshops resulted in producing a short video and anthology of poems, pictures, and general imaginings.

The Lit Collective video and anthology was launched at Migration Matters Festival in 2024.

Film produced by Pragya Roy

Illustrations by Ruth Tay

Anthology content and design by Sahra Ahmed and The Lit Collective

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