VCSE Learning Exchange: Headspace

VCSE organisations are invited to a unique and interactive Learning Exchange at Headspace, Bolton, on Wednesday 27th May, 10:00am – 12:00pm.

This session explores how creativity can be used to challenge stigma, bias and damaging narratives, helping people to think differently about themselves and others.

Headspace is a creative organisation where all staff, artists and members have lived experience of mental illness, neurodivergence, care experience, substance misuse, or being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Their work focuses on strengths, talent and co‑production, rather than labels or diagnoses.

What to expect:

• A gentle, welcoming start, using warm‑up exercises that encourage playfulness while remaining caring and accessible for those supporting others.
• Creative activities and games designed to help participants recognise internal bias and stigma, both towards others and themselves, and open up new conversations.
• Comedy, improvisation and interactive theatre techniques (including Theatre of the Oppressed‑style approaches), showing how humour can help people explore complex issues safely and honestly.
• Access awareness learning led by people with lived experience, using Headspace’s evidence‑based training approaches to explore discrimination and inclusion in an interactive way.
• Shared learning and co‑production, with space to jointly develop ideas, actions or values that attendees can take back into their own organisations and communities.

All attendees will leave with new connections, shared learning, and practical ideas for using creativity to break down barriers, shift perspectives and support more inclusive practices within their own organisation.

---- ** This work has been funded through the Live Well Communities Fund, as part of this, we can offer 15 attendees a small participation fee for their attendance. Participation fee: £125 per VCSE organisation. Here, we recognise that VCSE organisations do not get enough opportunities to develop their organisation and staff skills. This payment is intended to support VCSE's to learn, grow and develop together. *A Few Terms and Conditions: Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis with priority being given to those working in Bolton Central South. To ensure fairness, we ask only 1 attendee per VCSE organisation registers