what is the project all about?

“Our Home, Our Stories” is a creative project that uses the rich history of the Staffordshire Moorlands to support young people aged 16–20 who are Separated Children and Young People (CYP), also known as Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children. The project helps them build a sense of connection to their new surroundings and homes by using art, history and culture. At the same time, the project highlights the strengths, resilience, and creativity of today’s Separated Children.

The project was delivered by us here at TMC in partnership with Staffordshire County Council’s Virtual School. Over a six-month period, 35 participants engaged in creative workshops inspired both by local history and by their own personal stories and connections to Staffordshire Moorlands.

 Weekly sessions were facilitated by Emma Dawson Varughese, a local creative artist specialising in heritage, storytelling, and languages. She guided the young people in developing their own artwork, with a focus on pyrography and other techniques.