INSPIRED BY A HIDDEN RIVER
Voices of the Water is a two year programme inviting our local community to reflect on water, taking inspiration from two local waterways - the hidden River Fleet and the man-made Regents Canal.
We have created a new Floating Garden on the canal. Through a wide variety of sessions with local people we are uncovering, sharing and celebrating the cultural memories and stories associated with water. We are exploring how being around water can impact our health and wellbeing. And we’re finding practical ways to act on water scarcity and the climate emergency.
What's happening?
Children & Young People
Through stay & play and storytelling sessions with younger children, workshops with local primary schools, our youth leadership programmes, plus our popular holiday clubs, we are working with hundreds of local children and young people, exploring their relationship with water.
Community
In partnership with local community groups and GP surgeries and through our intergenerational workshops, we’re collaborating with people from a range of different backgrounds, all local to the Kings Cross area. River side walks, storytelling and food sharing all feature. Join us at our public events for the summer and winter solstices in one of our gardens.
Fellows
Voices of the Water is co-led by a group of young people, aged 18-24. They are helping shape the programme’s direction, organising events, supporting others in the local community and documenting the process, whilst gaining practical skills and employment.
"IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RESPITE. LOTS OF FAMILIES SEEMED SUPER RELIEVED TO HAVE THE GARDEN AS AN EXTRA CALM SPACE … AND WERE ABLE TO BREATHE OUT. THEY STAYED FOR AGES AFTERWARDS AND EXPLORED. ALTOGETHER THERE WERE OVER 724 CHILDREN THERE."
Olivia Armstrong, storyteller partner
"LIKE A RIVER, I HAVE BEEN ON A FANTASTIC JOURNEY, MEETING PEOPLE, SEEING NEW PLACES AND MORE. LEARNING THINGS NEW AND OLD. LISTENING TO STORIES THAT WHISK ME INTO DIFFERENT LANDS. SITTING BY THE FIRE JUST MAKES ME WANT TO CLOSE MY EYES AND IMAGINE IM BY A WATERFALL."
Pupil, Brecknock and Torriano Primary School
"THE RIVER SAYS TO ME: KEEP GOING, JUST FLOW FORWARD. MOVE INTO THE UNKNOWN, YOU HAVE MY POWER AND MY FORCE BEHIND YOU. LET'S GO ON AN ADVENTURE, LET'S CROSS THE LAND, FIND OUR WAY TOGETHER. WHEN WE MEET ROCKY GROUND WE'LL BEND AND FLEX AND FIND A WAY ROUND."
Patient, Caversham GP practice
Artwork by Ellie Awcock, Global Generation fellow