“Write here, sanctuary” creative writing for refugees and people seeking asylum

ABSTRACT

Background: There are few research studies reporting findings from creative writing groups amongst refugees and people seeking asylum. This study evaluates the educational, wellbeing, social and satisfaction outcomes of writing groups across three cities in the UK.

Methods: This study employs a mixed-method design comprising: a thematic analysis of writers’ (facilitators) diaries, demographic and satisfaction survey and 14 qualitative interviews.

Results: The project delivered a creative writing programme for refugees and people seeking asylum in three UK cities. This evaluation has determined that it provided both educational and wellbeing outcomes for 144 attendees. Participants asserted that they had improved their English language and wellbeing. Satisfaction was extremely high across the cities. Participants reported increased confidence and an increased sense of hope.

Conclusions: Professionally led creative writing groups may be effective in enabling people to help come to terms with past experiences and find ways of coping for the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Asylum seekers
• creative writing
• refugees
• wellbeing

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge Aimee Wilkinson who co-ordinated the project and also the professional writers who led the groups: Richard Goodson and Leanne Moden in Nottingham, Kevin Fegan and Jamie Thrasivoulou in Derby and Jess Green and Alex Plasatis in Leicester.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. See: https://cityofsanctuary.org/.

Additional information

Funding

Sanctuary project was delivered by Writing East Midlands and funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Rayne Foundation and Arts Council England; some of that funding paid for the evaluation conducted by the authors.