Northamptonshire Community Foundation Community Hero of the Week
Shine Arts & Well-Being CIC provides creative and wellbeing activities for neurodivergent people and those with special educational needs in Northamptonshire.
Meeting twice weekly at Burton Latimer Library and the community centre, sessions are led by directors Louise Chandler and Jackie Clarke, alongside local health professionals, artists and community members.
Their new project, Me. Myself & I, explores life through the eyes of participants, including those with autism and other neurodivergences. The project challenges fear, ignorance and marginalisation by humanising experiences and encouraging public dialogue.
Activities include creating a hardback book showcasing participants’ stories, a quilt representing individual journeys, interactive clay sculptures, street art with local artists, traditional portraiture, and a short film featuring spoken word and local poets. The project helps participants build confidence, express themselves creatively, and connect with others.
A £3,000 grant from the Compton Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, is supporting Me. Myself & I, ensuring these opportunities are accessible to Shine participants and the wider community.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £24 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.