the Background
Ravensbourne is located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. In February 2018 the College played host to a Delegates Assembly of Greenwich Citizens, the Greenwich arm of Citizens UK - the national alliance of civil society organisations working together and campaigning around key social issues such as housing, the living wage and safe passage for refugees. At the assembly a presentation was made by a local faith group, detailing Greenwich’s role in the UK refugee resettlement plan. ( In 2015, Greenwich Council made the pledge to resettle 20 Syrian Refugee families within five years. Only three refugee families have so far been housed. )
At the end of the meeting, members voted to hold the council to account over their pledge to resettle 20 families, and ensure safe passage for the remaining 17 families to the borough.
Our project has been borne as a creative response to this pledge.
Our project & Future Goals
This work combines illustration, animation, design and projection mapping to chronologically detail the story of the UK’s response to the refugee crisis, and specifically the pledge made by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to settle 20 families by 2020. The aim is to hold Greenwich Council accountable for their promise.
We worked extremely closely with a number of key stakeholders in preparing this project including Greenwich Citizens UK, Refugees Welcome, local faith groups, and academic staff at Ravensbourne.
After the assembly, we will continue to provide creative support to these groups in
order to further this agenda. This would include social media presence, public art
installations in areas like Greenwich Park, campaigns to call for volunteers, and more.
This work combines illustration, animation, design and projection mapping to chronologically detail the story of the UK’s response to the refugee crisis, and specifically the pledge made by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to settle 20 families by 2020. The aim is to hold Greenwich Council accountable for their promise.
We worked extremely closely with a number of key stakeholders in preparing this project including Greenwich Citizens UK, Refugees Welcome, local faith groups, and academic staff at Ravensbourne.
After the assembly, we will continue to provide creative support to these groups in
order to further this agenda. This would include social media presence, public art
installations in areas like Greenwich Park, campaigns to call for volunteers, and more.
Intended Immediate Impact:
The posters and projections will be displayed precending events during a networking half-hour at the Greenwich Citizens UK Election Assembly, taking place on Tuesday 24th April 2018. This gives the community and politicians opportunity to absorb the content in a nuanced way before directly engaging with the action groups.
In attendance at the assembly will be a number of local politicians, including:
David Gardner (Labour),
Cabinet Member, Health and Social Care, Greenwich
Matt Hartley (Conservative),
Councillor for Coldharbour & New Eltham ward
Candidates:
Nigel Fletcher, Pamela Ritchie and Anthony Okereke
Our team has also taken on direct responsibility in the Assembly itself.
Kat Hornstein [MA Interactive Digital Media] will serve as co-chair at the event, with Benjamin Norsworthy [MDes Social Innovation] and Viola Siegling [MSc Rapid Applied Technology] introducing Ravensbourne as a member of Greenwich Citizens UK during roll call. Maru Hernández [MA Moving Image] & Sarah Dousse [MA Communication Design] will maintain the creative display preceding ceremonies.
The posters and projections will be displayed precending events during a networking half-hour at the Greenwich Citizens UK Election Assembly, taking place on Tuesday 24th April 2018. This gives the community and politicians opportunity to absorb the content in a nuanced way before directly engaging with the action groups.
In attendance at the assembly will be a number of local politicians, including:
David Gardner (Labour),
Cabinet Member, Health and Social Care, Greenwich
Matt Hartley (Conservative),
Councillor for Coldharbour & New Eltham ward
Candidates:
Nigel Fletcher, Pamela Ritchie and Anthony Okereke
Our team has also taken on direct responsibility in the Assembly itself.
Kat Hornstein [MA Interactive Digital Media] will serve as co-chair at the event, with Benjamin Norsworthy [MDes Social Innovation] and Viola Siegling [MSc Rapid Applied Technology] introducing Ravensbourne as a member of Greenwich Citizens UK during roll call. Maru Hernández [MA Moving Image] & Sarah Dousse [MA Communication Design] will maintain the creative display preceding ceremonies.
Other local councils have gone above and beyond their original resettlement tallies. It is our hope that with continued pressure, the Royal Borough of Greenwich will provide a safe and supportive environment for as many refugee families as possible.
The following quote from a local faith leader, included on one of the posters, illustrates the life changing impact that resettlement and the opportunity to start a new life can have on vulnerable people who have experienced such hardship:
“Last week I took my family to Greenwich Park with two of the three Syrian families. We had a picnic together, saw the sights and the children played in the playground then ate ice cream… there was fun, there was laughter and there was freedom. The three families feel at home here… It has been a real privilege being part of the team helping these families settle into our neighbourhoods, they are all wonderful people, who have been through a lot in their lives and I’m so pleased that we are able to offer really, practical and sincere support…”
REBECCA BICKLEY
Pastor, Trinity Vineyard ChurchStories like this make it well apparent the value held within this cause. We hope our project, at its current stage, helps ensure that more families, after having been victims of violence, displacement, and instability, will get to enjoy a sense of community and belonging here in Greenwich.
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