Journeys of Change

Journey of Change explored what becomes possible when women and girls are given the time, trust and creative support to tell their own stories. You can listen to the podcasts by visiting Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/2ssFUyAxS6P0vkSp2T Or by visiting our page on Spotify:

Commissioned through the West Yorkshire Mayor's Safer Communities Fund, the project brought together women and girls from a wide range of cultural, social and economic backgrounds, many living with complex experiences including trauma, domestic abuse, poor mental health, poverty, social isolation and displacement. Rather than beginning with storytelling, the project began by creating something much more important: relationships built on trust.

Through a series of creative workshops, conversations and intergenerational encounters, participants gradually developed confidence in themselves and in one another. Women who had previously felt unheard began recognising the value of their own lived experience, while younger participants discovered the power of friendship, empathy and collective support. Cultural differences became opportunities for curiosity rather than barriers, as women from Arabic-speaking, Pakistani heritage and White British communities shared experiences, learnt from one another and built lasting friendships.

As confidence grew, participants were introduced to podcast production and media skills. Rather than being interviewed by others, they became presenters, interviewers and storytellers, shaping conversations around issues that mattered most to them: safety, identity, motherhood, resilience, belonging, education, recovery and hope. The podcast became a democratic creative space where every participant had ownership over her own story and how it was shared.

The project recognised that lived experience is a form of expertise. By creating opportunities for women and girls to speak publicly and confidently, Journey of Change challenged stereotypes surrounding vulnerability and instead positioned participants as advocates capable of influencing services, policy and wider community understanding. Public celebration events and the podcast series invited audiences, professionals and decision-makers to listen directly to voices that are too often overlooked.

The impact reached well beyond the recordings themselves. Participants reported increased confidence, stronger friendships, improved communication skills and a renewed belief in their own potential. Several women progressed into further education, volunteering and employment, while schools described significant improvements in confidence, empathy and relationships among participating girls. Community organisations have continued distributing the podcast resources, extending the conversations into schools, libraries and support organisations across Calderdale.

Journey of Change reflects a core principle that runs through all verd de gris work: meaningful change begins not by speaking for communities, but by creating the conditions in which people discover the confidence to speak for themselves. Creativity became the means through which participants recognised the value of their own voices, strengthened relationships across generations and cultures, and realised that their experiences could become catalysts for change. The podcasts remain as a lasting archive of those voices—a celebration of courage, connection and the belief that every person's story has the power to make a difference. We are very grateful to West Yorkshire Mayor's Safer Communities Fund for their support of this empowering project work.