Kushti Savvy: Build a Better Future Book Club Celebrates GRT History Month

Kushti Savvy: Build a Better Future Celebrates GRT History Month

Join Gemma Lees, Romany Gypsy artist and advocate for a discussion about GRT History Month, the communities it celebrates and the often difficult and uncomfortable histories and realities of being a Gypsy or Traveller in today's Britain and find out the answers to the questions you never dared ask before!

After the discussion, there will be an object writing activity giving you the opportunity to delve into GRT cultures through objects of significance, such as a Roma flag, a handcrafted peg, a miniature traditional wagon or a narrow boat. Use themed papers and stickers to create a beautiful collage poem celebrating GRT History Month! 

Facilitator Bio:

Gemma Lees is a Romany Gypsy, disabled and autistic performance artist, poet, facilitator, comedian and journalist from Bury. Her practise focuses on protest, advocacy and inclusion. She regularly facilitates both adult and family-friendly creative writing and arts and crafts workshops in a variety of venues and she is a passionate advocate for GTRSB and neurodiverse education and inclusion in schools. She is a core team member of Girl Gang Manchester and this year she has been awarded a DYCP grant to explore her ‘Hostile Interior Design’ project and an Unlimited grant to study comedy sketch writing. She is the lead artist/ co-producer on projects for GRT History Month with Leeds GATE, Factory International, Holocaust Centre North and Warwickshire Libraries, is working with Rotherham Council on an extended intergenerational project focused around traditional jig dolls and her poetry chapbook, ‘1000 Years’ will be published by Written Off later in the year. gemmaleesartist.co.uk

Build A Better Future Series:

Originally founded as an anti-racism book and then media club through 2020-2022, we broadened our focus to include a range of marginalised identiies, experiences and important social and political focal points, renaming the group as Build A Better Future Book Club in 2023. In 2025, we are expanding the series to incorporate a range of workshops, outings and talks to continue to integrate our co-learning and community. We hope this group will provide a space and build a community for education, discussion and reflection. 

Where possible we will invite facilitators with lived experience of the topic to provide stimulus and co-moderate discussions with our team- we choose to share the role of facilitation to share both the power and responsibility within the space. The club meet on the final Thursday of every other month and sessions will now be 2 hours long to create space for lengthier discussions and action point check ins and outs at the start and end of each session.

Book Club/discussion based sessions are run as in-person/online hybrid event delivery to maintain some of the increased accessibility lockdown instigated, but we would also like to build community and action around this group - so encourage people to come down in person if they can!

We intend to maintain a long term, consistent space for people to take personal responsibility and communal accountability for their allyship and coalition learning, creating a space for reflection, discussion and to hear from other voices. The group is always open to new members, or returning ones, so we’d love for you to join us!

If you would like to facilitate a future Build A Better Future book club, workshop or event or have an idea for a book that you think we should feature please drop us a message at hello@girlgangmcr.com.

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WHO IS BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR:

The sessions are open to people of all genders/races/sexualities/classes/disability inclusive - if you have any specific accessibility needs in regard to the sessions, please let us know and we’ll do our very best to accommodate. For parents, single Mums, and those with a legitimate reason to be late, don’t worry we will still let you in the room! For everyone else, please try to be on time if you can so we can all be a part of the full conversation where possible.

This is a space for everyone - though we would like attendees to be aware that participants may be at different stages of their personal educational journeys. We must be prepared to push one another and address our own shortfalls to get the most out of the sessions, valuing the voices with experience, if they wish to attend.

Access info: 

Refund policy: Paying for a ticket funds freelance artists, creatives and facilitators and helps support Girl Gang Manchester in continuing to run events. All tickets are non refundable and non transferable.

Girl Gang Manchester’s events aim to be as inclusive as possible. This event is open to people of all genders, ages, races, sexualities, and classes. All are welcome, please see specific access information below.

Accessibility information:

• The room will be lit with normal lights. There will be a projection screen for zoom participants and potentially a power point presentation.
• We won’t be using strobe lighting for this event.
• All gender toilets are provided.
• Seating will be available throughout the event.
• We happily offer free tickets for personal access assistants, please email us at girlgangmanchester@gmail.com to arrange this. Registered assistance dogs are also welcome!
• Specific COVID guidance can be found below.
• A Girl Gang Manchester team member will greet you as you enter the event space and will be available as a point of contact throughout the event if you require anything.

If you have any other access requests or worries, please contact us at hello@girlgangmcr.com. We are super proud that our events and club nights are welcoming and that there are always people who feel comfortable to attend on their own.

COVID-19 Guidance:

Though we no longer have any specific COVID-19 guidelines in place at our events, it is our expectation that you as a member of our community exercise personal responsibility in that you do not attend if you knowingly have COVID or any other contagious disease, or if you have knowingly had contact with a positive case.

Why do we ask identity questions?

We want to make our events as inclusive as possible and we often get questions from people who for whatever reason say, ‘I really want to come but I am nervous, will I be the odd one out?’ Whilst we will always strive to do our best to make everyone feel welcome, it is useful to know a little more about who our audience is for each event so we can be honest in our responses to any queries. It also helps us tailor events for the people attending and identify who we aren’t currently reaching with our work.

This data really helps us, please answer any questions you feel comfortable with. If you do not want to share this information, please leave it blank. More information can be found on our Privacy Policy.