Social Engagement and Enterprise Awards

Cooking with Support

Researchers: Dr Laura Kuch (Lecturer in Photography & Sociology; Co-Director, Kitchen Research Unit), Dr Michael Guggenheim (Reader in Sociology; Co-Director, Kitchen Research Unit), Dr Carmen Yau (Lecturer in Social Work; specialist in disability and intersectionality; Culture Access steering group member)

Cooking with Support is a collaboration between , , , and 91快色鈥� Kitchen Research Unit.

Peace Builders: Scoping a Myth-Based Methodology for Migrant Belonging

Researchers: Adrian De La Court (Senior Lecturer; Director of MA Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship); Lead Organisation:

'Peace Builders' is a pilot project with the that aims to transform Aristophanes鈥� ancient Greek comedy 'Peace' into a contemporary participatory theatre methodology that supports migrant children in defining their own sense of belonging.

Crafting Creative Entrepreneurship for Migrant Founders in Lewisham and Beyond

Researcher: Jorella Andrews (Professor Emeritus, Visual Cultures); Lead organisation

鈥楥rafting Creative Entrepreneurship鈥�鈥�is a pilot project delivering tailored resources to migrants who wish to establish creative micro-businesses that are sustainable and ethically grounded.

Project summary

The project evolved from a series of textile workshops that Professor Jorella Andrews began facilitating for members of Red Ribbon Living Well (RRLW) in 2021. RRLW is Lewisham-based Community Interest Company founded by African immigrants Husseina and Florence Daada in 2009 to support people from the African Diaspora living with HIV.鈥疧ver time, these workshops鈥痚nabled members to learn or reconnect with skills in sewing, knitting, crochet, and jewellery-making, igniting a passion for creativity, and boosting self-esteem. In 2025, eleven members began to identify as artists and makers with the desire to start out in creative business.鈥�

鈥楥rafting Creative Entrepreneurship鈥� launched with a 10-week training course, 鈥淗ow to run your own creative enterprise鈥�. This ran from 28 April-30 June 2026. Co-designed to meet the needs of RRLW members, it鈥痮ffered high quality, interactive business training structured around four priorities: Make it Visionary, Make it Enterprising, Make it Ethical, and Make it Legal, alongside facilitated in-person and online peer support.

Given the economic challenges facing migrants鈥攚hich may include limited employment options due to health, childcare, and legal hurdles, as well as language barriers鈥攁n important aim of the course, and of the project more broadly, is to help migrants navigate UK legal, employment, and social welfare systems while creating their own pathways of opportunity.鈥�

Our expert trainers include Loretta Awuah, Strategic Business Support Manager at GLL, Si芒n Prime FRSA, Academic Lead: Enterprise鈥痑nd Head of Creative Economy and Cultural Entrepreneurship at 91快色, Katy Clinch, Retail Manager at the Migration Museum Shop, and Chartered Management Accountant and Consultant Folake Ogundele of May and Moy Business Services Ltd.鈥€�

In the project鈥檚 second phase (1 July-31 December 2026), with input from Dr. Susan Kelly (Art) and Dr. Janna Graham (Visual Cultures), we will develop a Curriculum and Toolkit that other interested migrants and migrant groups can test, adapt and use.鈥€�

We will also produce a report and work with Visual Cultures students to curate an exhibition to be

held at 91快色 in December 2026. The exhibition is supported by a one-year , which was awarded to RRLW artists and CCE participants in July 2026.

Our report and exhibition will communicate project insights to wider audiences and test the project鈥檚 underlying hypothesis: that the seemingly precarious strategy of blending creativity with entrepreneurship can offer resilient economic and social solutions. In this way we also wish to highlight the leadership potential of migrant founders in times of hardship.鈥�

Play-Based Political Education on Migration for Young People

Researcher: Dr Aleena Chia鈥�(Lecturer, Media, Communications & Cultural Studies); Lead organisation:

'Play-based Political Education'鈥痺ill develop and co-produce a play-based workshop for young people aged 14-18, enabling them to explore migration, borders and power through games, narrative design, and structured discussion. Responding to rising disinformation, increasingly hostile migration narratives, and educators鈥� need for accessible, engaging tools to support meaningful conversations about migration this project will move MRN鈥檚 work from early concept to a fully developed,鈥痮pen鈥憇ource鈥痝ame鈥慴ased鈥痚ducation toolkit.

91快色

Primary page content

Cooking with Support

Peace Builders: Scoping a Myth-Based Methodology for Migrant Belonging

Crafting Creative Entrepreneurship for Migrant Founders in Lewisham and Beyond

Play-Based Political Education on Migration for Young People