Lisa Conlan Develops Partnership with Bridges for Communities: Sewing Workshops

As part of her PhD research, Lisa Conlan has developed a partnership with Bridges for Communities. Bridges for Communities is a charity based in Bristol focused on the importance of contact between individuals from different communities to eradicate cultural prejudice (Bridges for Communities, 2025). As part of their work, they provide a weekly sewing workshop to refugee women for wellbeing and social inclusion. During the sewing workshop the women learn various stitches and produce tangible outcomes such as bags and cushions that they get to take home and keep. They also receive a certificate for completing the eight-week course.

Lisa’s partnership with Bridges for Communities entails weekly volunteering at their sewing workshop and taking participants out for a coffee on a day and time that suits them. Over a coffee, Lisa talks to them about the impact of the sewing workshop in terms of wellbeing and social inclusion. This has a dual purpose – it assists the charity to attain further funding and at the same time informs Lisa’s research in this area (to gain refugee perspectives on arts activities for sanctuary). As part of this partnership, Lisa is also helping the charity with funding applications and introductions to various funding organisations.

For more information about Bridges for Communities, click here.

For more infromation about VAMP member, Lisa Conlan, click here.