Mental health ‘crafternoons’ and other D&I funded projects

Opening up our museums for mental health crafting workshops and Black arts performances were among the projects supported through the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Fund in 2022/23.

Six initiatives were supported in total last academic year, following the appeal for bids in summer 2022.

The Fund offers grants of between £300 and £1,000 to projects that aim to have a positive impact on diversity and inclusion, either in specific areas or University-wide.

Museum crafts and Black arts performances

Among the awarded projects in 2022/23 were a student mental health support initiative offering crafting workshops in our campus museums.

Led by Dr Rhi Smith, Director of University Museums and Special Collections Academic Learning and Engagement, the project built on work by our Learning and Engagement team at The Museum of English Rural Life at London Road to offer social approaches to mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Students got the chance to learn basic crafts in the calming museum surroundings during the darker spring months. Feedback showed they were hugely valued by participants.

Two vibrant social events for Black History Month in October 2022 were also made possible thanks to the Fund.

An event arranged by the Department of History, featuring Ghanian food and an interactive display of departmental research, was attended by more than 100 people, while a Black Arts Showcase run alongside the Students’ Union celebrated Black culture and ethnicity with performances and also drew in more than 100 people.

All 2022/23 funded projects

• Anna Tsakalaki - Co-Production in SEND
• Golnoosh Nourpanah - Queer Colours: Meeting the Authors Across the Spectrum
• Rhi Smith - Crafting for Wellness
• Miriam Marra & Leanne Ley - Students ‘Meet’ Reading: D&I events at the ICMA Centre in Collaboration with Reading-based Charities/Organisations
• Chessie Baldwin - Black History Month catering
• Shakera Green - Black Arts Showcase 

Some of the above D&I Initiative Fund awardees will share their experiences and details of the projects at the first Diversity and Inclusion Community of Interest (DICOI) seminar of the year on Wednesday 22 November.