STEP INTO SUMMER - HILLINGDON 2025
In August, we returned to Hillingdon to deliver Step Into Summer: a two-week drama and filmmaking project with refugees and asylum seekers aged 14-18. We brought together 20 young people who are new to Hillingdon to make friends, build skills and confidence in English, try new things, get active and have fun - all through creative workshops led by our Associate Artists.
At the end of the project, 100% of participants told us they had enjoyed it, 93.4% said they felt more confident speaking English, and 86.6% said they felt part of a community.
“Thank you so much all for organising this wonderful summer project. [my child] is like she found her dream place.”
“This programme changed my life, since arriving in the UK I have only stayed in my room all the time and never went out.”
This project was supported by four wonderful Brunel Ambassadors; these students played a key role, helping us to set up the space each day, supporting participants to navigate the campus, and bringing amazing energy and creative ideas to the workshops. We are very proud to be an Associate Company of Brunel University, and would like to thank the Brunel team for their amazing support.
Read more about the project through the experience of one of our Brunel Ambassadors, Jey, below!
More than Words
Written by Jey Blúm (Brunel Student Ambassador)
I never expected a job at university to make me cry.
When I joined Brunel, I assumed I would get a degree and then a job like everyone else with a bit of flare since it was a Theatre and Creative Writing one. I never expected it to be taken a step further, I never expected the opportunity to use something I was so passionate about to help people.
I have been lucky enough take the role of Brunel Ambassador on Compass Collective projects twice now, over the summer months. I was initially approached by my boss who thought I’d be good on the project and I applied through my student ambassador role. I expected a job and discovered connection. I discovered people who have been through so much, who struggle with unstable living accommodations, language barriers and anxiety of this new country they’ve had to go to. All of this and yet you wouldn’t think it by day 2! On both projects I watched these incredible young people defy language barriers, push themselves through theatre and film and create bonds.
We all experienced how important the arts are through Covid especially, and yet the arts are still under fire, still needing a reason to be here and if anything, these projects display it ten fold. When language prevents communication, art steps in to create something more. Through movement, laughter and a little help from Google Translate, not only could I help communicate with the young people but they started to find ways of explaining their ideas to others by having the confidence to show it.
I watched confidence and a voice come out of even the shyest individuals and heard their stories. The Compass team behind this project have so much passion for what they do and that’s what encourages the young people to keep coming back – and they do!
They kept coming back, grateful for the chance to get out and create. These are children under the age of 18 who are just looking for a place to belong and every single one of them found it here. I remember how difficult my teen years were, how much I struggled with connection, with creating a place for myself and understanding who I am. I can’t imagine how it has been for these young people but within the two week project they have discovered so much about themselves and I discovered more about myself too.
The arts are supposed to be shared, this degree I wanted to get (and now have as a graduate with honours) is so much more than just something I’m passionate about. I truly believe it is a stepping stone to something more for these young people. The arts give them a place to build from.
The young people came up with things to make each other laugh, sometimes being silly and other times discovering areas of life that maybe they’ve personally experienced or witnessed and used this as a base to be able to comprehend things in a safe environment. Under the guise of theatre, they’re learning to understand the world around them. Through the film portion of the project, they are learning technical skills – future careers behind the scenes as well.
In a two week project, these young people have done more in regards to actively seeking connection and showing empathy than most experience in a lifetime. I’m beyond grateful to have been a part of these projects and know they’ll all go on to do incredible things.