Creative Routes

Connecting creative people with cultural destinations, building travel confidence and community knowledge exchange across Global Majority women’s groups in Doncaster and Rotherham. September 2026 - March 2028

The Programme

Following on from the Uncover Cultural Skills programme in Rotherham, a project that highlighted hidden creative talents and skills within 4 local community groups, concluding in a showcase of art and crafts inspired by South Asian culture, nature and freedom.

‘Creative Routes’ aims to continue to build confidence and connections of previous participants, linking with groups in Doncaster.

Uncover Cultural Skills highlighted the need for group members' creative development through facilitation skills training, creative skills, mentoring and building confidence for Global Majority women to travel independently via public transport.

Rotherham participants will share their cultural and creative skills with new groups and learn new skills from Doncaster based workshop facilitators and groups, through peer to peer mentoring.

We are partnering with South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority to collect some data around travel for the region for this demographic. Encouraging new networks to develop across community groups and organisations.

There is a small amount of funding allocated to childcare for community group members who struggle to pay for childcare during workshops and tours. Community group members should let us know if they need this before signing up for workshops to ensure we can support them.

While the public outcome may change it is expected there will be a cultural guide produced to help individuals navigate a new city to relevant and safe spaces, encouraging use of public transport to go and see arts and cultural activities, rural and urban places or events. This will have a launch event in Rotherham and/or Doncaster.

Aims

• Community led research- supporting personal and creative professional development of community groups

• Placemaking- showing a different cultural side to South Yorkshire

• Networking - connecting people

• Knowledge share - Sharing what’s interesting where community groups live

• Supporting participants navigate new spaces to help encourage others to explore with confidence, take their friends and families. 

• Encourage more families and adults to access the beautiful parks and landscapes in South Yorkshire.

• Support members of community groups with the use of train and bus travel from Rotherham to Doncaster and vice versa to remove anxieties and build confidence.

Current connections

Rotherham based groups we are working with are Rotherham West Community Connections CIC - "Improving the education, health and well-being of our local community, by bringing people together through activities and events."and YAWR (You Asked We Responded) -  "promoting social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people residing in Rotherham and the surrounding areas from becoming socially excluded, assisting them to integrate into society". Both groups support women from Global Majority backgrounds. 

We are in conversation with Doncaster based artists Molly Eroje and Fiona Cahill who work with women’s groups, youth groups, older people’s groups, community arts and charities in Doncaster.

Next steps

We are looking for an Engagement worker based in Doncaster to confirm involvement of 2 Global Majority women’s groups based in Doncaster. 

We aim to connect with venues and natural outdoor spaces, find mentors to support the creative development of 2 community group members and find knowledgeable local guides to provide a tour of arts and cultural destinations in Rotherham and Doncaster.

Express your interest

• Explain your interest in the programme and how you would like to be involved

• Let us know what the current needs of your community are and how this programme could provide something beneficial and of value to them as well as the arts and cultural and travel sector.

• Your availability

• Email to: info@yvan.org.uk, if you would prefer a phone or video call we are happy to arrange this after an initial brief email.

We welcome involvement to all regardless of age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, religion or belief, occupation, caring responsibilities or lived experience. We encourage interest from those currently under-represented in the arts sector.

This programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by Yorkshire and Humber Visual Arts Network (YVAN)