previous health & well-being grants

Rosa's first grantees, working on the issue of Body Image:

Bin the Beauty Box (ICA:UK/Feminist Webs)

A series of events across the North West of England generating knowledge of feminist youth work around Body Image and informing decision makers and media. In each area young women visited a number of workshops.  Every area worked with the artist Sarah Greaves to explore what body image meant to them and to create sections of a body image banner, exploring media pressure, make-up, pressure to be thin, feeling ugly, and why we should celebrate our diverse bodies.  The participants also worked with animator Tamzin Forster who worked with the whole group and a select number of young women on a residential to come up with an animation about body image including air-brushing and the effect of the cosmetic industry on young women’s sense of self. This animation, entitled 'More than a Face', can be viewed on Rosa's youtube channel here.

Strong and Flying (Mimbre)

In October 2009 with support from Rosa's first grants round, acrobatic company mimbre started working with a group of 20 young girls aged 8-12 from social housing estates in Hackney and Islington. Together they created the project 'Strong and Flying'.  The focus of the project was for the girls to discover, via acrobatics, acro-balance (human pyramids) and facilitated discussion, what their bodies were capable of. 'Strong and Flying' included sessions with the girls’ mothers, both on their own as well as the mothers and daughters together. This was a chance to discuss things they would not normally discuss at home as well as to create a physical bond by performing acrobatics and pyramids together.

Powerbodies (The Powerhouse)

A London-based grassroots organisation enaging with and empowering women with learning difficulties to respect their bodies and their abilities. They support and empower their members to lead full and independent lives, make friends, make choices and have fun. They achieved this through weekly healthy living groups, creative workshops, art projects, leisure activities and discussions about appearances and body image.