Residentials have been one of the most powerful experiences for Solidarity Hull CIC, as they not only bring people together and deepen relationships, but also have played an integral part in the development of organisational capacity. Through these experiences, we are able to share our stories, learn from one another and encourage participation as we set out to work together for positive change. Below are some reflections about the importance of residentials:
A good walk on the mountain 
Critical learning 
Residential in Braich Goch. 
Critical learning Residential in Braich Goch.
‘The trip to wales that was very important to me, to spend time together, to chat and share food. To learn something new, the exercises that we did. I learnt a lot about the history of Solidarity Hull, what solidarity has been through. It is important; it is a learning process’ (Rinas)
‘Learning and hearing peoples stories has been a real eye opener to be able to share stuff about myself, you know hard stuff and get angry, not at each other, but with each other. About the world, about life, about the system, about sexism’ (Maria)
Growing Solidarity — in Machynlleth.
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Solidarity Hull spent a wonderful residential weekend at Braich Goch. During the weekend we explored Solidarity Hull as an organisation, how we might grow and develop in the future using creative tools. We started out on Thursday each creating a unique six part story, developing a character to represent Solidarity and the process of setting up as an organisation. We asked ourselves what might help and hinder us in this process and what do we envisage Solidarity Hull to be like in the future. The following day we came together using body mapping to explore Solidarity Hull further as a collective, to discuss the roots of Solidarity, the skills we all bring, both individually and as a collective, our vision for Solidarity Hull, our dreams and our desires, our responsibilities and our emotions. The body map is a work in progress and we would not be complete without the creative contributions of all Solidarity members.
In true Solidarity spirit we also took the time to be together, to play, laugh, walk, dance, cook and eat wonderful food and share with each other whilst exploring our the majestic surroundings, in Corris and Machynlleth.
Solidarity Hull spent a wonderful residential weekend at Braich Goch. During the weekend we explored Solidarity Hull as an organisation, how we might grow and develop in the future using creative tools. We started out on Thursday each creating a unique six part story, developing a character to represent Solidarity and the process of setting up as an organisation. We asked ourselves what might help and hinder us in this process and what do we envisage Solidarity Hull to be like in the future. The following day we came together using body mapping to explore Solidarity Hull further as a collective, to discuss the roots of Solidarity, the skills we all bring, both individually and as a collective, our vision for Solidarity Hull, our dreams and our desires, our responsibilities and our emotions. The body map is a work in progress and we would not be complete without the creative contributions of all Solidarity members.
In true Solidarity spirit we also took the time to be together, to play, laugh, walk, dance, cook and eat wonderful food and share with each other whilst exploring our the majestic surroundings, in Corris and Machynlleth.
[easy-image-collage id=278]This summer has been dead busy for us at Solidarity Hull. Some of us participated in the Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA) conference in Cartagena , Colombia, with our colleagues from Nation of Migration Awakening the Diaspora (NOMAD) and the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience of Coventry University. We spent a week in Cartagena learning about the colonial history of the city as well as actively participating in the conference where we delivered a workshop on the educational philosophy of Paulo Freire. We also took a trip to south Colombia to visit a Campesino community where we learnt about their way of life and shared ours.
[easy-image-collage id=389] [easy-image-collage id=388]Solidarity Hull also took part in Refugee week, in preparation we run a session where we discussed what it means to be a person of refugee or migrant background living in the UK, as a result we made a placard that expressed this and exhibited it at Queen’s Garden, where we had a picnic and took the opportunity to outreach by handing out flyers with all our weekly activities.
[easy-image-collage id=390]In August we travelled to London to be part of our sister organisation NOMAD’s launch event where we experienced an amazing event full of music, art and important discussions. We also enjoyed some sightseeing in London. At the end of August, as part of our Yes2Youth project, Nomad and Solidarity Hull met for our joint residential at Braich Goch, our centre in Wales. There we reflected upon the journey of this project using different participatory techniques to evaluate our progress; what we learnt, the challenges we encountered and our plans for the future.
[easy-image-collage id=391] [easy-image-collage id=394]We also took part in Leeds West Indian Carnival as we were invited by our other sister organisation Leeds Dynamics. It was a wonderful event full of colour, music and dance where we mingled with hundreds of other carnivaliers.
[easy-image-collage id=392]Right now we are preparing for Mad Pride carnival. For the past few weeks we have been having masks and costumes making workshops as well as dance and theatre workshops in preparation for the parade. We are all very excited!!
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