City Academy Bristol, in partnership with youth organisation Young Bristol, is delivering an alternative curriculum one day a week for its asylum seeker/refugee children who arrive in the city with little or no English. The project provides vital language and emotional support, and creates opportunities for these young people to interact with the wider community. In this programme, the students take part in a two-day art project with elderly people from the local community. Following initial introductions, young and old work in pairs to design and create a mosaic for the Trinity Community Centre, with guidance from artist Victoria Appleton. Not only does this activity encourage communication between the two groups, and enable invaluable language practice for the students; it also brings together representatives from old and new communities of Bristol in the hope of breaking down barriers and prejudices, and promoting positive relationships.

Video Series: Community Cohesion
Release Date 2008