coming soon
exploring diversity & inclusion through immersive storytelling and art
create and become a character in a story - the decisions you make shape the direction the story will take.
explore your own beliefs and the perspectives of others using mindfulness and coaching techniques.
create your own unique piece of art.
CHANGEMAKER is a unique experience that can be used for good relations/EDI training, or for teambuilding and personal development.
Guided by a Wheelworks artist/coach, you will use CREATIVE EMPATHY to deepen your understanding of biases, raise your awareness of differences in perception, and gain practical skills to apply in your own workplace.
CHANGEMAKER encourages self-reflection and opens discussion of sensitive topics. It focuses on opening minds and looking towards the practical application of positive practices in the workplace and the wider community
By engaging in discussion on differences and similarities, biases and stereotyping, and the significance of the nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010, you will be enabled to relate to, and work effectively with, people with different backgrounds and abilities.
ChangeMaker is the first step towards increasing awareness, improving communication, and inspiring authentic behavioural change.
“insightful & thought-provoking”
“fantastic facilitator; a powerful medium made very accessible.”
“brilliantly paced.” “really immersive.”
“more organisations should use this style of training.”
For 30 years, WheelWorks has embedded inclusion, diversity, and equality into all the services we offer. Our vast experience in cross- and inter-community work has enabled us to design this solution.
Changemaker formats
CHANGEMAKER is designed with managers, team leaders, frontline community staff, and supervisors in mind, but is available to anyone. It is available as a half-day workshop, or a full day exploration of all the CM key concepts and activities (includes extended scenario discussions, extra group work, and more time to develop each individual art piece). Or, we can create bespoke content for specific organisational needs, delivered in any workplace setting.
THE NORTHERN IRELAND POPULATION IS CHANGING IN SO MANY WAYS
IN 2001, THERE WERE 14,300 PEOPLE WITH ETHNIC MINORITY BACKGROUNDS LIVING IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
THIS INCREASED TO 32,400 IN 2011, AND INCREASED FURTHER TO 65,600 IN 2021.
OUR ETHNIC POPULATION HAS MORE THAN QUADRUPLED IN 20 YEARS.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AGED 65 OR MORE IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAS GROWN BY NEARLY 25%.
THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE.
ALMOST 18% OF OUR POPULATION IDENTIFIED AS HAVING 'NO RELIGION' IN THE 2021 CENSUS.
ALMOST 22,000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS LESBIAN, GAY OR BISEXUAL IN THE 2021 CENSUS.
Testimonials
In 2022–23, the Northern Ireland Executive Office funded a year-long ChangeMaker pilot programme over two local council areas. It involved 38 community and youth sector leaders, the majority of whom worked in areas facing multiple deprivation and sectarian tension. The feedback was phenomenal: all those who participated had positive experiences, and each was enabled to understand their own decision-making process and how that related to output, creativity, biases, and productivity. At one of the CM sessions, participants created a piece of artwork called ‘Bias’ and gifted this piece to Gareth Johnston, the Deputy Secretary of Good Relations and Inclusion at the Northern Ireland Executive. In a letter of thanks, Gareth wrote that he had placed Bias on his office wall, and commented that it was ‘a reminder for me, as I advise the incoming First and Deputy First Ministers on policy issues, that I need to be aware of my own biases, and seek to draw on a diverse range of perspectives.’
find out more
If you would like to find out more about ChangeMaker, or book a course for your staff, please contact:
Stevie McGirr
Business Development Officer
business@wheelworksarts.com
028 90244063