The Green New Deal
September 12th 2019
On September 12th, 2019, Creating Change hosted an evening, in keeping with our now established approach of combining politics and a bit of fun! The evening started with a review of Creating Change activities and campaigns over the previous year, from our banner making project through to our ‘If It’s Wrong, Change It’ event at Colchester Arts Centre. We also reported on our fund-raising activities which have enabled us to make donations to both Refugee Action Colchester, and the Colchester homeless charity, Beacon House.
This was followed by presentations and a discussion of issues relating to climate breakdown, with a speaker from Extinction Rebellion on global issues, a Green Party Colchester Councillor on local environmental issues – and our very own Creating Change member, Harry Nathan, on Green New Deal policies. (Harry was a council candidate for the Labour Party, the youngest person, at the age of 18, to stand for election).
The evening ended with a quiz testing our knowledge of green issues, and music from the brilliant local band Lighthouse Jam.
If It’s Wrong, Change It
A variety night of local talent, politics and fun, 21st September 2018
On the 21st of September 250 people came to Creating Change Colchester’s Variety Night of local talent and politics ‘If It’s Wrong Change It’. The night was a medley of speakers, performances, poets and bands – and it attracted a large diverse audience. There was a brilliant story from Clare Marsh about her journey to the ‘If It’s Wrong, Change It’ slogan from which the event got its name. Her amazing banners decorated Colchester Art Centre on the night. This was followed by a fantastic thought-provoking talk from Hasina on why she wears the hijab and a powerful and moving address from Solma Ahmed on anti-Islamophobia and anti-racism. Then we heard a poem entitled ‘If It’s Wrong, Change It’ by Mike Harwood and witnessed a death-defying nail stunt from the Great Antonio. The night then turned up the volume with sets from Lo-Fi Lighthouse Jam, punk Battle of Bands winners Feedback, Grunge Punk band Tundra and an explosive live performance of fractured anthems from headliners Pet Needs. Whilst this was all going on the perimeters of the Arts Centre were filled with stalls from local campaigns and groups: Refugee Action, Beacon House, Unite, Vent Your Rent and Speaking Outside the Box. In the foyer guests were welcomed by Creating Change Colchester to start the political conversation of the night. Guests were encouraged to interact with a board asking ‘what’s wrong?’ and ‘how should we change it?’ and hungry audience members, campaigners, activists, gig goers and families ate delicious food from the Falafel & More food van outside. The great turnout raised £400 split between Beacon House and Refugee Action. The night was a rip roaring success, the air full of energy and hope and a real credit to, and celebration of, the local community here in Colchester and the surrounding areas.
Speaking Outside the Box: Coltopia
In colaboration with Young Arts Kommunity (YAK) group at Firstsite
In July of this year, Creating Change got together with the Young Art Kommunity (YAK) at Firstsite to launch our Speaking Outside the Box initiative for 15-25 year-olds. At our launch event, we asked the question ‘What creative project, event or campaign could we devise to make our community a better, fairer place?’
Poetry Workshop on the Climate Crisis and the Environment
The ecological, economic, social and political effects of climate change were examined in a poetry workshop led by Mike Harwood, in November 2018. The fourteen participants produced a high quality of poems on the threats to our planet and possible solutions. Over one hundred pounds was raised from this event.
Voting Matters
It was vital to get more students on the electoral register for local elections that were coming up in May 2019. Combining fun and campaigning Creating Change initiated a new Voting Matters campaign in association with Essex University Student Union. Creating Change also visited Colchester Sixth Form College (see photo below) and Colchester Institute.
We had a stall with our banner and – most crucially – a guide sheet for students on how to register to vote.
Banner Making
Completed in time for the May Day celebrations this year (2018), members of Creating Change produced an innovative banner made up of individual patchworks representing our values of social justice, equality and fairness. Each ‘patchwork maker’ was given an A4 sized price of fabric and asked to represent their ideas in images and/or words, using a variety of media, including recycled materials where possible. The result was a stunning banner which has had many outings since its completion, including at the May Day celebrations in Wivenhoe, Brightlingsea Regatta, the ‘Big Sunday’ event in Colchester and the very successful Creating Change event, ‘If it’s Wrong, Change It’ at Colchester Arts Centre in September. And, what has made the banner project all the more remarkable is that many of us had never done anything like this before, with the result that this was a genuinely inclusive project in which anyone could participate – and together produce an amazing statement of our shared values and hopes for positive social and political change.
For further information about the banner, or if you would like to participate in a similar project, please contact sally.p.wilcox@btinternet.com
Creating Change Movie Nights
We put on a series of films engaging with social justice issues. The idea was to encourage people to come along, watch a good movie, and to get inspired to be involved. We used the cinema at Essex University, put out some pamphlets etc. at the start, and then moved on to the pub on campus for a chat for those who were interested.
Further ideas for movies welcome! Please contact Daragh Murray: d.murray@essex.ac.uk
Film Screening, Pride
Event in colaboration with Essex University Labour Society
Film Screening, Sink
Event in colaboration with Essex University Labour Society
In the style of the social realistic dramas of Ken Loach, Sink focuses on Mick, an unemployed dad who is laid off from a series of zero hours contracts jobs. He is caring for his dad, who has dementia and is supporting a son recovering from drug addiction. Mick’s situation is grim, but Mick is an immensely likeable character who has allies at the job centre, neighbours and a caretaker who help him sort out his problems involving money and accommodation. There is anger but also humour.
Following the showing of the film, Mike Harwood conducted a Q&A session with the writer-director of the film, Mark Gillis.
Launch: Fighting Back
ANC politician, Denis Goldberg, fought apartheid with Nelson Mandela and, like him, spent many years in jail as a result. In a recent Guardian interview, Goldberg, now 84, explained why he has devoted his later years to building a centre for the arts:
“People matter. I feel the whole point of being in politics is about people. For me it’s not about power.”
For Creating Change, these words struck a deep chord, helping us to see that the connecting term between art, politics and grass-roots campaigning is quite simply ‘people’. Read more…
Further details about our event, and how you can pay to access it, can be found via Eventbrite:
Voluntary contributions can be made via GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/creating-change-support-musicians-through-covid
Banner making
During lockdown, a small group of Creating Change supporters has been working on making patchworks for another banner, this time with a focus on specific policy areas relating to our Creating Change core values, in response to the social issues highlighted by the Covid19 Pandemic and inspired by hope for a different future. The patchworks use a combination of words and images, examples of which can be seen below:
We aim to have finished the banner by March and to display it as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased; once assembled, we also plan to produce posters and cards of the banner which we can sell in order to raise money for Creating Change supported causes.
So, watch this space for more information about the great unveiling of the completed banner, and how/where you can buy posters and cards!
Other Creating Change events planned for 2021.…
‘Ramble through the Bramble’ – a walk led by Creating Change member Dan Twyman.
This will take place once lockdown restrictions have been eased and we can go for a walk outdoors as a group.
The plan currently will be to meet at Wivenhoe Railway Station to catch a train to Great Bentley and walk back to Wivenhoe via Thorrington and Arlesford Beach (approx. 2hrs / 5 miles). This will provide a chance to catch up after the months in lockdown, to chat and share ideas with like-minded friends, thinking about the tradition of rambling and the preservation of public spaces, and other issues of the day.
The plan will be to bring a packed lunch, and to wear walking boots as the ground may be uneven and wet in places. The emphasis will be on walking and talking so it won’t be a fast-paced walk and no-one will get left behind!
Watch this space for more details once we are able to properly organise this event following the required government announcement easing lockdown restrictions.
Copperas Wood Walk (Wrabness) 12th March 2022
A fantastic day for a walk in Copperas Wood with the reward of cold soup at the end (we did try to heat up the ‘orange’ soup (ie. all orange/red vegetables) but it was too windy to keep the flame alight on the stove! About 16 people joined Dan for his ‘Ramble through the Bramble’. We are looking forward to the next walk at the end of April – more details to follow.
CREATING CHANGE 2022
‘Rambling On’ Walks’
In preparation for the launch of our ‘Creating Change ‘Rambling On’ walks, and in support of Joe King (a local artist/photographer) and his New Histories project, a group of friends checked out a number of local walks: from Arlesford Creek, via the disused Crab and Winkle line to Wivenhoe, along part of the Essex way from Wrabness Station to Wrabness Point, and to Frating Hall Farm. Here we were welcomed by the current owners who kindly shared some fascinating history about the farm, most notably of the period from 1943- 1954 when it was a radical pacifist settlement. Mike Harwood also gave a talk about the farm’s history and its links to the Adelphi literary journal.
In addition to the benefits of walking, we also enjoyed some lively discussions about a range of social and political issues, and in particular land access rights and legislation, as well as noting how much negative signage has appeared along familiar walking routes.
Rambling On – Creating Change Walks
Building on the success of our initial walks and stimulating en route discussions, the next ‘Rambling On’ walk is planned to take place on Saturday 12thMarch in Wrabness and the Copperas Woods. We will continue our lively discussions about potential access issues, as well as find out more about copperas and its history.
We aim to meet at 11am at the Wrabness car park (not at the station), with a walk of about 3 miles (with a reduced one-mile option). Be prepared – it may be muddy! Refreshments will be provided at no charge (Dan’s excellent soup recipe, with some bread/rolls) – but do let one of our Creating Change committee members know if you would like to join us so that we can be sure that we have enough soup for everyone!
Looking forward to meeting up on the 12th March!
NB Please check the Creating Change website the day before the walk- just in case bad weather means that the walk has to be cancelled.
Creating Change Colchester Relaunch 2026
After a pause for a couple of years, Creating Change hosted a very successful relaunch event at Patch Café Colchester, when Mike Harwood, a local poet, discussed his recently published memoir ‘Getting to the Point’. Mike talked about his creative development which was characterised by overcoming barriers, some amusing and serendipitous moments and was a testimony to staying positive. This very much accorded with the values of Creating Change, and we hope gave encouragement to others.
The relaunch evening also presented the first of four themed events planned for 2026: the vital, but often undervalued support, provided by carers for family and friends. Mike will be running two creative writing workshops in April for anyone who is interested in sharing their caring experiences through the medium of poetry (please ‘See What’s Next’ on our website for further details)
CREATING CHANGE 