New Town Culture: creative processes in social work with refugee and asylum-seeking young people

Abstract: This case study was drawn from a collaboration between researchers and arts and social care agencies in a local authority in London, working with cultural organisations and individual creative practitioners on a culture programme for young people accessing the authority’s social care services. The overarching aim of the programme was to explore how artistic and cultural experience can enhance the work of social care practitioners and thus help to support adults and children in need of social care services. The programme pursued three strategies for achieving this aim. Firstly, it increased the arts offer to young people and adults using social care, in one of the most deprived boroughs in London, through the direct provision of new arts- based workshops and projects (‘clubs’). Secondly, it embedded this offer within local authority social care, making the activities an integral part of the local authority’s provision to support children and young people using support by social care services. Thirdly, it promoted a cultural exchange of ideas and expertise between the arts and social care sectors, with the local authority’s culture department and social care practitioners participating in the design of the programme.

Author(s): Rachel Hughes, Marijke Steedman and Brian Callan

Date Published: 2025

Depositing User: Karolina Zasada

Keywords: Radical Hospitality, Perfect Party, Relationship-based Practice, Social Work Innovation, Arts Engagement, Cultural Literacy, Youth Justice

Page(s): 174-188

Place of publication: Bristol, UK

Publication title: Critical Research and Creative Practice with Migrant and Refugee Communities

Published URL: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/critical-research-and-creative-practice-with-migrant-and-refugee-communities

Publisher: Policy Press

Subject(s): Migration

Type of publication: Book chapter