Meet the catalyst class of 2021/2022

what they care about

We asked each of the participants in this years catalyst programme what they are passionate about and what they’d like to change in Gloucestershire:

I would love to see more services in place for young people especially amongst the Afro-Caribbean community. Services that are led by Black people who represent and promote a positive lifestyle. Jess Lewis

I care that artists and creative people are empowered and nurtured to make work within their communities in Gloucestershire. A particular passion of mine is that the dance community in Gloucestershire continues to grow and thrive, in turn inspiring future dance leaders & artists. Michelle Lee

I want more people to feel involved and engaged in their community - or at least that the word "community" has a strong positive association for them. Colin Levine

What I care about in Gloucestershire is making it a better place for neurodiverse people to be... among many other things! Josh Jones

I really care about everyone having opportunities regardless of financial constraints and how people can experience new ideas. I'd love to see Gloucestershire a county that welcomes new ideas and is a place where people feel safe to explore and also inclusive. Being a carer I have experienced the limited opportunity for people with disabilities to access arts and culture due to home carers and time/transport constraints. Debbie Christie

I care about increasing dialogue with young people around climate change, and more empowerment and exploration of how they might respond to these conversations in their artistic practice. Sally Jenkinson

I'd love to help develop opportunities for everyone in our community to experience creative activities, provide spaces for creative people to share their work and encourage and facilitate creative community projects. Debs Brooks

I care about sustainable fashion development. Shalize

Making Gloucestershire an all inclusive, diverse place to live. Naseem

In Gloucestershire I care about creating more opportunities for young people experiencing mental ill health to co-create and engage in arts projects that support treatment, recovery and future wellbeing. Naomi Said

I care about our Community. I'd like to see more and focus around Mental Health. Keasha Kellam

What I care about in Gloucestershire is that communities have equality of opportunity to participate, create and engage in the arts. Louise Brown

I really care about enacting positive social change, and helping people to develop and reach their potential through engagement with the arts. I believe that engaging with creative projects has the power to change lives, and that having a sense of agency is vital for the communities of Gloucester to feel ownership in their city. I would really like to see confidence and creative energy growing in the more marginalised communities of Gloucester. Hannah Thomson

I really care about the younger generation and care about people who have a passion have a platform or way to expose their work or talent. Mikel Medley

I care about accessibility to inclusive information so that everyone is able to make choices for themselves, and become advocates for themselves. I'd like to see changes to the PIP assessment and DWP's treatment of people. A move from the medical model to the social model. Katrina Brown

I would like to enable more people to take part in creative and community activities. I want to help break down the barriers within communities, empowering people to work outside institutions and organisations, and realise there are things they can do for themselves. Tess Beck