Creativity across the city – find out how we support Manchester’s global majority

At Afrocats, we break down barriers to provide thousands of Manchester’s refugees, asylum seekers and global majority communities with access to fun, free, and friendly activities which are all aimed at improving their lives, raising their aspirations, and nurturing happy and resilient Mancunian citizens.

We offer year-round opportunities to get involved in inclusive dance, drama, arts and culture, health and wellbeing, youth voice, and more – and it’s clear we’re well on the way to achieving our goal of cultivating social change across the city.

And so how, you might ask, how do we support our communities who come from all over the world to find a safe haven in Manchester? And how do our creative activities help us do this?

Here’s how.

Creativity helps refugees by being a gateway to self-expression, trauma healing, and community building. 

It can help refugees cope with psychological and emotional stress, enhance well-being, and improve social connections, while creating a fuller, more grounded sense of belonging, and helping refugees navigate their new lives in their adopted home city.

The arts, such as animation, dance, poetry and podcasting all offer ways to get creative with self-expression, especially for those who may struggle to express their experiences verbally. 

And as you might know already, the arts can also be a form of catharsis, allowing those suffering trauma to heal and rebuild their lives. 

Engaging in the creative activities Afrocats offers boosts refugees’ self-esteem and confidence, and participants regularly tell us that they feel more empowered with a stronger sense of agency in their lives.

Being part of creative projects can foster social connections and create a sense of community, which is particularly important in the initial stages of displacement – and marginalised individuals and communities are able to overcome feelings of isolation, bridge cultural gaps, and build new friendships as a result of our work.

In 2025 so far, we have:

• Brought communities together to celebrate International Women’s Day

• Provided free and inclusive half-term activities for families alongside The Whitworth

• Got communities in North Manchester dancing and taking care of their heart health

Ultimately, we want to see the communities we support form a regular part of the UK job market once they receive their leave to remain, and to this end, our work helps participants both young and old(er) enhance soft skills such as communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking, all of which are valuable assets in the educational and employment sectors. 

And with our upcoming projects into 2026, Afrocats look forward to having even wider reach and stronger impact across the city and the north-west region, and we can’t wait to continue making lives better for Manchester’s global majority communities well into the future.

Want to work with us? Commission a workshop, book us for consultancy, training, or mentoring, by clicking here.