chrysalis craft coventry
Coventry
Chrysalis Craft Coventry CIC was founded in March 2020 in response to the urgent
unmet needs of BAME and migrant communities who were disproportionately affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown has challenged the mental health and
wellbeing of everyone, more so for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in our
communities. Many have experienced unimaginable trauma and have seen major
disruptions in their life already. The pandemic has amplified further the
existing mental health problems. Often left in limbo, not able to take on higher
education studies and not allowed to work (with many refugees under or
unemployed) and likely to face loneliness or worse, direct discrimination,
within their new communities. Chrysalis Craft Coventry CIC run sessions and
activities to help with healing, using art and different artistic methods for
wellbeing. The aim is to build self-esteem and friendship through artistic
techniques, using art to work against loneliness as a result of language,
cultural and ability barriers. The social enterprise supports people from a
variety of different backgrounds, focussing on disadvantaged adult women
immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Focusing on women who came to Coventry
and the surrounding area recently, and those who have been here for a long time,
but who have experienced barriers to integration. Local authority, NHS and
charities working with migrants’ commission and refer people onto in-person and
online workshops. Grant funding supports materials and content development. Over
the short period of the start-up, Chrysalis Craft Coventry CIC supported
thousands of individuals suffering from loneliness, domestic abuse, stress,
anxiety, depression, homesickness and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder because of
life experiences with positive results. During the pandemic the workshops have
proven invaluable, acting as a safe environment and an information and
signposting service. Directing people to urgently needed services they could not
reach due to language barrier or stigma caused by misinformation.
