FREE weekly creative activities designed to support residents to connect, create and inspire change in their local area, as well as creating new job opportunities for local people, are launching in Thurrock this week.

Beginning in Refugee Week, this Wednesday (18 June), everyone is welcome to join a new series of singing and songwriting sessions in Grays, and art and making sessions in Tilbury.

In Grays, music leader Aga Serugo Lugo will lead the group in singing songs from around the globe, writing new lyrics and sharing their favourite music with one another. In Tilbury, led by artists Marsha Ashley and Salina Jane, the group will be creating a brand-new Community Picnic Blanket, a large-scale collaborative artwork which represents who we are as a community and what makes us unique. The songs and artworks will be shared for the whole community at events in Thurrock this summer.

These creative activities are part of 'Together Create, Thurrock', a programme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and run by Together Productions, a community interest company that enables individuals and communities who may not otherwise meet to come together and sing, learn and create, and in doing so to form new communities of friendship.

The project has been developed in collaboration with local and national partners including Welcome to the UK, the 180 Project, the Gateway Learning Community, B3 Bumps, Birth and Belonging, Thurrock Coalition, START Thurrock, the Gateway Learning Community, Thurrock Music Service and Arts Outburst.

Together Productions works across Essex and London, and has been working in Thurrock for eight years, delivering programmes including Together Create and the popular creative heritage programme, 'Sharing Our Lives' which engaged 2000 Thurrock residents in discovering untold stories of migration from their local area and bringing them to life through the arts.

Alexandra Godfree, Head of Programmes at Together Productions said: "We're so excited to be launching these new free weekly creative activities which will see Thurrock residents sharing songs, stories, skills and ideas, and deciding on the art they want to make together.

"Getting creative together is such a brilliant way to boost our wellbeing, make friends, as well as making a difference to the places and issues we care about, and we can't wait to see what the Thurrock community creates together."

• All ages are welcome (under 18s must attend with an adult), and no prior experience is required.

• Grays singing and song-writing sessions will take place 10am-12pm at Grays Baptist Church Hall, Hathway Road, RM17 5JL, every Wednesday 18 June – 30 July

• Tilbury art and making sessions will take place 3.30-5pm at Tilbury Family Hub, Anchor Field, RM18 8EY, every Wednesday from 18 June – 23 July

Book at www.togetherproductions.co.uk/events

Follow Together Productions across social media channels for updates.

@TogetherProductions (FB)

@Together_Productions_Create (Insta)

@Together_Create (T)