Celebrating Difference (360G-ThriveLDN-386)

14. What is your project? (400 words) BowHaven is a peer-led mental health charity based in the heart of Tower Hamlets, a culturally rich and diverse borough. We have been running a successful Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery Centre since 2003, and our way of working is completely person-centred. This means that there is a high level of focus on choice, self-expression, support, opportunity, positive ownership and responsibility. BowHaven is more than just about accessing a service. It is about being part of a philosophy where authentic recovery and well-being is rooted in a sense of belonging, where once clients join they become members of the centre, giving them the scope and ability to influence and shape their environment, in a meaningful way for both themselves and others. We are seeking funding over two years to produce a series of six cultural events designed to celebrate the diverse communities living in Tower Hamlet. The events will be co-designed and hosted by marginal/intersectional cultural groups (various BME and LBGT) and are open to people from all communities. These would showcase aspects of culture via sharing of food, language, art story, drama, craftwork and poetry. We would make connections by supporting people who use Bowhaven to reach out to others within their community to generate activities for the events. This project will serve as a means of making more people within these communities aware of Bowhaven and facilitating conversations about mental health. The events will facilitate dialogue across communities, enabling better contact with ‘difference’ and better mutual understanding. This itself is facilitative of better mental health. In addition, we hope the project will help to de-stigmatise mental health within groups that are likely to access support. The project is needed because whilst BowHaven is a diverse community, our membership isn’t representative of demographics in Tower Hamlet. For example, Bangladeshi people form 32% of the population, but 5-10% of those who use BowHaven. We developed this project through consultation with our BME and LBGT members as to what would help in bringing the community together and reaching those who need our services. BowHaven’s direction is towards an inclusive approach, rather than catering for the need of different communities separately. These events will provide an opportunity for marginal and intersectional communities to present their culture to the wider public and to build understanding and have better representation. Our project will directly engage 160 new people (20 per event).