Unlocking Potential in Brent Youth: Unique Community

Through the arts, they transform struggles into confidence, fostering a community built on shared experiences, learning, and growth. Recognising the importance of combating isolation, Unique Community develops peer-to-peer connections, inviting individuals from marginalised groups to contribute to Brent's community growth and forge lifelong friendships. Their approach is rooted in shaping a welcoming community tailored to the unique needs of its members.

In a recent interview with Nataliya Kharina, the artistic director at Unique Community, we investigated the impact of One Flow One Brent facilitating their programmes. “Thanks to OFOB, we have reached new audiences by delivering after-school sessions which work equivalent to the level of support and guidance we give young people through our main programme,” Nataliya confirms and adds, “our services have become more accessible now.” Recognising the limitations preventing young people from attending sessions at their venue, Unique Community adapted by delivering weekly sessions mirroring their main programme directly within schools. This not only increased accessibility but also facilitated the establishment of relationships and trust, particularly with vulnerable individuals who are hard to reach, at risk, or come from low economic backgrounds.

As part of the OFOB programme, Unique Community has also built relationships with other delivery partners such as Connect Stars, through which the organisation acquired young trainee facilitators from Chalkhill. After working with the most vulnerable youth, Connect Stars refers those individuals to Unique Community, where they receive further support in other areas such as arts and drama, nurturing the next generation of community leaders.

While Unique Community acknowledges the challenges within the estate, particularly the diverse needs and approaches of the participants, they work hard to establish a harmonious community to foster kindness and understanding. “Our group is very diverse which makes our work also challenging due to our participants’ different needs and approaches to the programme,” Nataliya says and adds, “this is a starting point in the process and so we believe we will get to see more successes in near future.” Unique Community has already noticed improvements within the group of participants since the programme's launch in autumn. Nataliya shares a story of a once challenging young person with special educational needs who initially resisted participating in the activities; with the needed support and guidance, he now actively engages in every session. This triumph demonstrates the transformative impact of Unique Community's aims to support individuals on their unique journeys.

As the organisation prepares for its final show in the upcoming months, the team encourages the participants to work more harmoniously and collaborate effectively towards the common goal – a successful on-stage performance. Getting everyone to play their part in the final show is a huge accomplishment that young people can be proud of. However, the work does not stop there. Nataliya and her team are committed to providing its trainees with another reference, whether for jobs or further education, to continue developing their skills and receiving new opportunities even after the end of the programme. Unique Community is not just about creating art but more importantly, unlocking potential in young people and inspiring and empowering individuals to shape their own narratives.