So What Changed…

Many of the projects we fund work closely with people that face social exclusion to ensure that they are not only included in their local community but that they also have the opportunity to learn throughout their lives. One of these projects is run by developing partners cic (dp) a social enterprise organisation that is led and run by people with long-term mental health needs working in partnership with diverse people who experience social exclusion.

Recently dp has been involved with a Grundtvig Partnership project called New Knowledge – New Life Quality, which looks at how dp motivates adult learners from diverse background to learn and develop craft skills, skills which many people from different cultures share, and will exchange and share these skills and experiences with their partners from across Europe.

Leading the evaluation aspect of the project, dp produced a tool called ‘body mapping’.  Asking the question, ‘So What Changed?’ members were encouraged to use their own body silhouette to share what impact the organisation has had on their lives.

Jacqui Lovell, deviser of the body mapping tool, explains why this method was so important.

“For many of our members, English is not their first language, so they can face huge challenges with reading and writing. By presenting thoughts in a visual form, we are able to include more of these people as it can be shared and understood by everyone.”

Throughout the 14 week programme, members documented their own unique journey by using their body maps to produce and film videos, learning technical and production skills along the way.

Jacqui explains why these videos were so valuable for members,

“Video has a distinct advantage of helping people to see themselves from the viewpoint of the ‘other’. This self-image can be empowering in showing the person that their knowledge is important and can be effectively communicated. Video techniques have been used to build confidence and to inspire community members to have their voices heard whilst doing something which many participants didn’t think was possible – sharing what are often their intimate thoughts and feelings on film.”

You can read more about the New Knowledge – New Quality project on our website.

‘So What Changed’ through your experience of Grundtvig?

Reading about the work of dp, for me, highlights the innovative and creative ways in which our projects work and how change can help to overcome barriers and strengthen communities. We would love to hear from you about the impact the programmes have had on you, your organisation and your local (and European!) communities and how they have changed as a result of Grundtvig, Leonardo or Transversal funding.

Why not share your own unique journey?

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