Words of Courage

Words of Courage was a community-led creative project developed with CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) in South London for Refugee Week 2026.

Over a series of co-design workshops, we worked alongside CARAS community members to explore a powerful question: What does courage mean to you?

Through conversation, creativity and shared reflection, participants spoke about the many forms courage can take in big, life-changing moments as well as the everyday acts of continuing, hoping, connecting and beginning again.

These reflections were the foundation for a collective creative process. Words were gathered, shaped and held together. Ideas were tested, drawn and reimagined. Slowly, a shared language emerged.

The project brings together a series of community-authored phrases and artworks, co-designed with participants and translated into a collection of merchandise and a short film.

Words of Courage is an exploration of collective voice. It considers how language can hold experience, how creativity can build connection and how courage is practiced, daily, in ways both visible and unseen.

Launched during Refugee Week 2026, the project culminated in a series of graphic pieces for purchase, with fundings going back into the CARAS community group.

Visit the Words of Courage merchandise shop here.

Watch the Words of Courage film here.

2026

Socially engaged creative practice, Learning and engagement

Collective members: Margaret Ravenscroft