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Phil Sanger is one of our newest recruits to the Create Space collective. He joins the team as a facilitator and certified coach. We asked him to share some of his story. In 1999 I left my hometown of Barnsley. Kate Bush was playing on my walk-man, on repeat. My destination was Leeds and my goals were to take up professional dance training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and, much to the dismay of others, to come out. With both goals firmly under my belt I have since enjoyed a flamboyant career of touring world class stages, appearing in television and film productions, and working with some of the most renowned and queer choreographers to be found. Ten years later (2009 with Kate Bush still on repeat) I began fundraising and producing local and international cultural events. By this point I had become a dance-maker, mentor and educator and I had, at some point, also found time for a hiatus as a nightclub and event manager where I discovered a little more about what it means to be queer, and whole lot more about what it means to be me. Over the years my creative interests have evolved and become much more politically centred around queer visibility and coming out stories. The shift in content was galvanised when I started working with a coach who supported a transitionary period of my career and to my surprise, I uncovered in myself a lion's share of internalised homophobia and so 'the work' began. The result was that I myself would go on to become a coach and trainer, and the wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community became the next focal point of my practice. Another ten years later (Yes, 2019 and Kate Bush is STILL on repeat) I toured a pseudo-glamorous solo show titled 'For Only An Hour'. The premise of the show was that I would confront my shame and share my coming out stories on stage as a political act of queer visibility and LGBTQ+ rights. The show consolidated my otherwise incoherent journey and now, I am here. Phil spoke to our Programme Director, Maylis Djikalou, about his Create Space workshop, ‘Give Me Courage’ taking place Saturday 1st May 2021. Discover more about Phil: weareramped.org @philsanger LinkedIn Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

We sat down with Change Management and People Transformation specialist, Gatonga Theuri, an attendee of our Who Am I? GBTQ leadership programme, to hear about his retreat experience and how he's used our teachings to drive change in his own life. Who are you? I am spirit experiencing life as a human being who is black, African, gay and professionally, a program manager in the field of Data Science, insights and analytics. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? I was always drawn to computer science and the possibility of information technology which I believe to be limitless and right now in its early infancy; in addition, unrealized potential has always been an area of interest to me, and being part of the process of realizing said potential or evolution of individuals and humanity as a whole has always been what I thought is part of my calling. What have you learnt throughout your journey? That it’s okay not to be okay, that I am not alone, that there are people like me from different pockets of the World striving for the same clearest, best and most life possible. Why did you get involved in the "Who Am I?" programme? I am naturally introspective and believe that the quest for self-knowledge is literally why we are here – to discover our limitlessness and phenomenal potential, and through this experience, encourage all to discover and revel in their true magnificent selves. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? Yes, mainly in how I approach my personal and professional life – I was an extremely ambitious, overworked and stressed out man – always trying to prove myself worthy…now, I am hopefully on a different tangent – one of self-discovery, self-love and self-care – where my motives are not subservient to others or society, but are all about experiencing the highest, most and best possible life for me. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? It’s quite checkered to be honest – for the longest time, I was deeply in the closet, especially when I was living in Nairobi (Kenya), so I avoided the community at all costs, as I thought that association was social suicide; later, when I decided to live with my first partner, I was more open to the community albeit heavily discreet. Having moved to live initially in Budapest, and now in London, I feel deeply that I want to give back and take care of my siblings in the community; be to them that which I lacked for instance a model of a possible life; spread more love and try and overcome some of the darkest parts of the community. I want to play a part in the healing and self-acceptance; help our community members live better, more elevated and quality lives through self-love, self-knowledge, and self-care, which I think all begins with self-acceptance. What's the biggest challenge you're currently facing? Fear of ending up with no one to share my love and my life with – I am currently single, after 3 serious attempts ()…I know I am made for love, to love and be loved, so my fear is not finding that soon or ever. Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? Yes…I am a deeply loving and caring man that will see the best first in others, yet I am also an extremely harsh self-critic…I am trying to be more conscious and present in my self-talk, in a bid to be less self-critical. Turning it from negative self-talk, to positive, loving and uplifting self-talk. How do you continue to "Create Space"? Meditation, Gratitude exercise (writing down 3 things I’m grateful for daily), physical exercisen (sadly not consistent or as much as I’d like), changing my self-dialogue and taking time to enjoy myself without guilt. Want to connect with Gatonga? Follow him on Linkedin. Are you interested in joining one of our retreats? Our 'Who Am I?' retreats take place throughout the year. We have tailored iterations of the programme to suit the needs of differing identity groups. Each person can attend the group that feels right for them. To stay updated about upcoming workshop and retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list here.

We sat down with diversity, equity and inclusion specialist Yassine Senghor, an attendee of our Who Am I? LBTQ leadership programme and now We Create Space team member, to hear about her retreat experience and how she's used our teachings to drive change in her own life. Who are you? I am Yaz, an Equality/Equity Diversity and Inculsion specialist, writer, mentor, speaker, facilitator, podcaster and occasional model (that's the short version). I am the Director of Confronting Change EDI Strategies, a consultancy that supports organizations and community spaces to consider their inclusive practice through an intersectional lens. While much of my work centres around consultancy, it has actually led to some really exciting places that I couldn't have predicted, like working with young people and focusing more on supporting marginalised people as well as allies and supporters. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? In 2016 I did a Masters in Gender and Sexuality Studies, as the treatment and rights of women and people with marginalized identities has always been something vitally important to me, both personally and in terms of how I want to effect change in the world. I then had a short lived but really impactful run in Brighton where I managed the Marlborough Pub and Theatre, which was a hub for the queer community there. This allowed me to focus on how I could utilize my background in hospitality and people management to create space for the community that was so close to my heart, and specifically for the most marginalized within that community. After that, I was lured back to London to work at Stonewall, the largest LGBT organization in Europe. This is where I was able to combine my understanding of people and my passion for justice together in the world of Equalities (Equity), Diversity & Inclusion. My role there was supporting workplaces to consider their EDI practices and improve their LGBTQ+ Inclusion and how they valued their staff as individuals. I always encouraged an intersectional lens in my work with a focus on race and gender issues as well as creating inclusive spaces that held room for all marginalized people. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd and the BLM protests, I found myself in a dark place where a lot of my work and efforts felt futile. I had to pull myself out of that and reflect on my beliefs and re-evaluate how I wanted to contribute to making change in the world. This led me to launch my consultancy, Confronting Change EDI Strategies, which allows me to work with clients who are as passionate about justice and change as I am, from an action driven place of empathy and authenticity. What have you learnt throughout your journey? I'm half Gambian and half Liberian, and I've been living in London for about 13 years now, but before that I hopped around the world a bit. I raise that because being an immigrant is an element of my intersectional experience that I am only recently starting to grapple with in terms of how it has impacted my experience of the world, alongside being a black, dark skinned, queer, masculine presenting, gender non-conforming, fat woman with mental health issues. These are all things I am deeply proud of now, but I am still doing a lot of work to unpack how I internalized negative societal attitudes towards these things. I've also learned to listen to myself. Sometimes it feels like I already know quite clearly what I want, and have a lot of the answers that I've been searching for, I just needed to give myself the space to explore those answers and actually hear them. When I listen to them, my gut or the guiding universe, or whatever you want to call it, I almost always get results, and wilder than I could have predicted. I think that's because I feel much more fulfilled, like I'm not pushing against myself, that I'm more aligned with my vision and my purpose. That has led to huge changes in my personal relationships, my work and also in the way that I treat myself in the midst of it all. Why did you get involved in the 'Who Am I?' programme? During the pandemic finding online spaces with like minded people became essential to me. It coincided with a lot of personal growth and change that was happening for me also, but I think like most people, I was just a bit lonely. The Who Am I? programme allowed me to meet incredible people who have brilliant life stories and are doing really inspirational work. I would normally feel a bit of imposter syndrome in those spaces, but with this programme, I was surrounded by people who were rooting for me and saw in me all the inspiring things I saw in them. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? One of the things that I like the most about the retreat was the holistic approach. There was breath and body work, theory and psychology and then just human conversation. This is something that I have tried to embed into my work and the various ways that I approach new situations and also how I think about my life. I am increasingly trying to make space for all the different elements that enrich me and make me whole from a deeply reflective and conscious place. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I'd say I'm pretty connected to the LGBTQ+ community. I feel like this has matured alongside me starting from being a pretty solid fixture on the queer club scene to now working in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. I volunteer with queer organisations and have participated in organising various Pride events at different cities. For me, being part of the community is now about making sure that no one feels left out and that everyone finds an opportunity to shine and thrive within it. I think particularly of the upcoming queer youth, who have so many more opportunities to define and explore their sexuality and gender, but who still need vital support. Quite often, these are the people who inspire me the most, because of the confidence they have to be themselves, and I consider my role as a self appointed elder, to be to make sure that I am laying solid foundations for those who come after me and learning from those who came before. What's the biggest challenge you're currently working through? I don't know that it's a challenge so much as growing pains, but I am undergoing a process of aligning my body to what I've always wanted it to look like by getting non-flat top surgery. This is incredibly exciting, but it's also pretty terrifying to think that my body and maybe my perception of myself is about to change forever. It's also pretty scary to think that this is something that I've wanted for so long in my life, and I'm finally making it happen! But its something that could not have happened before this period of my life. I have taken all the learnings that have come from the last year, and a lot of the practical and reflective tools I have learned during the Who Am I retreat and applied them to how I want to live my life. This has immediately led to doors being opened and a lot of freedom to really question who I am, and then really just be that person. Have you learnt anything new about yourself recently? I think that I have learnt that I'm a lot braver than I realised. Even attending the 'Who am I?' retreat was something out of my comfort zone, but I went, and I was actually really excited to attend (amidst the nerves). That enthusiasm allowed me to be really engaged in the retreat, to approach it with openness, which required that I bring my fears and vulnerability to the table and actively participate. I try to bring that feeling of excited vulnerability to each new encounter now. Rather than trying to hide the feelings, I am embracing them, and hopefully creating space for others to do the same. It's also nice to have a group of people who are excited to hear about you, your work and what makes you, you. It feels like you are being seen, and in recognising that, it shows that I don't always see myself. So in thinking about that vulnerability, it makes me want to see myself a lot more clearly as well. How do you continue to 'Create Space'? First and foremost, I am just focused on that very idea of creating space, both for myself and others. I am creating space to continue learning about myself and hearing myself and my needs, and to be kind, soft and gentle with myself. Creating space for love and rest and joy. I hope that in this, I am creating space to be more compassionate and kind to others. That I am creating spaces where they feel safe and encouraged to be their whole vulnerable selves. This is especially important in my work, where I definitely lead from a person centered approach. I want to understand people as individuals and to hear about their experiences and find our commonality and celebrate our difference. Want to connect with Yassine? Follow her on Instagram, Linkedin and check out her website Confronting Change. Are you interested in joining one of our retreats? Our 'Who Am I?' retreats take place throughout the year. We have tailored iterations of the programme to suit the needs of differing identity groups. Each person can attend the group that feels right for them. To stay updated about upcoming workshop and retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list here.

We sat down with Jon-Paul Vicari, an attendee of our Who Am I? GBTQ leadership programme, to learn more about him, his retreat experience and find out how he's using our teachings to drive change in his own life. Who are you? Wow, what a first question. My name is Jon-Paul Vicari and I am (in no particular order) gay, Lebanese, Italian, and proud. I usually tell people I come from a place of yes when describing myself because I say yes more often than not. It’s why Bethenny Frankel and I are meant to be best friends. Saying yes to many things in life is a privilege I am fortunate to have right now. I live with Jordan, my partner of 7.5 years in Chicago, and our dog Roo and find myself often eating good food, reading good books, watching Bravo, and traveling. I tend to use comedy as a coping mechanism and have been living with depression as long as I can remember. I love being in therapy (I truly do) and have been taking antidepressants since early 2020 which has been both laborious and beneficial for me. Friends and family are the most important thing to me and I am fortunate to have a great family by blood and by choice. After so long of not seeing people, I am working on being more present with them now and savoring every moment. Doom scrolling be damned, I want more meals together, more hugs, more laughs, more being vulnerable, and more memories. No day but today rings true even more so than ever. For work, I'm currently in a sales role focused on helping organizations hire hourly workers across the US. I've also had the opportunity to serve on my company’s DEI Committee. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? I found myself unemployed in late 2014 and spent several months figuring out if I wanted to leave retail and pursue other opportunities in sales. Luckily, I found a job with a great leader who was willing to give me a chance to enter a new industry. She and I still work together now at our current company too. I’ve loved being able to bring my skills to table in a completely different space while learning and adapting along the way. What have you learnt throughout your journey? Kindness and compassion are essential for me to be fulfilled in and out of work. Knowing and working with people who regularly display these traits as verbs rather than only adjectives has made me a better person. Being able to treat yourself with the same level of kindness and compassion you would give others is work I will do forever, it’s a daily habit that recenters my perspective. I think about this Teddy Roosevelt quote a lot in this context “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Why did you get involved in the 'Who Am I?' programme? The truth is, I was in a bit of an identity crisis and really unsure about what I was doing with my life in general. I was already impressed with the work We Create Space was doing with another organisation called myGwork, and when I read through the programme information, I felt an immediate sense of relief that there were other queer people like me who wanted to be supportive and supported in their journeys. I knew immediately I needed to participate and loved every second of it. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? Since I attended in April 2021, I've used many of the lessons in my everyday life. One of the most impactful things has been breathwork. Despite not having much experience with it heading into the retreat, it provided me with immense relief and space to discover more about myself while healing other aspects. I've been practicing at a small scale throughout the day and worked with one of the retreat coaches in a 1:1 setting a few months ago. All of the retreat work and relationships built were the spark I needed to get myself back on track with my mental health journey after feeling stuck for a long time. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I identify as gay/queer and use them interchangably for myself. I have friends and family across the full spectrum of identities within our broader LGBTQ+ community. Being able to see and validate our joint experiences as a community makes me feel connected to all of us across the world. Currently I participate in a gay mens book club in Chicago and am a penpal with Black & Pink who help pair up LGBTQ+ people who are incarcerated with LGBTQ+ people who are on the outside. I find myself in a season of life where being queer and proud is more important than ever and supporting our community in anyway I can is my goal. What's the biggest challenge you're currently working through? Maintaining and building on the progress I’ve made over the past 18 months. Today I am the most me I have ever been in my whole life and I love being able to say that. My brain defaults to seeing progress as linear when in reality, progress is never linear. Being able to accept that and still put in the work for myself is a challenge but I’m ready for it. Have you learnt anything new about yourself recently? Part of why I participated in the 'Who am I?' retreat originally was to “fix” some things I felt were going wrong. During the retreat I learned that I wasn’t broken; I was healing. My brain and nervous system were afraid to release parts of the trauma I’ve held onto because I was afraid to see who I was without that in my life. Learning to let that go on top of hearing so many others say “you are worthy” helped me look in the mirror and believe when I said those words to myself. How do you continue to 'Create Space'? Well for one, I try to join the monthly regroups as often as possible. I love getting to see people from my retreat and meeting new people who have gone through this experience. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much support and love we have to give each other. I’ll say it again, breathwork has been a transformative experience for me and while I am slowly working my way through how to incorporate it more into my life, having basics to rely on is amazing. I’ve been able to free up mind to focus on tasks, healing, being present, and physically feel better too. Advocating for my well being at work and with others has been a significant shift for me by setting clear boundaries and bringing people into my experience instead of shutting them out. Lastly, reading. I have loved books my whole life and reading gives me a way to escape, learn, and feel in ways nothing else has been able to. This year I’ve read more books by and about LGBTQ+ people and all of the intersections that exist within our community is truly a gift. Want to connect with Jon-Paul? Follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn and Goodreads. Are you interested in joining one of our retreats? Our 'Who Am I?' retreats take place throughout the year. We have tailored iterations of the programme to suit the needs of differing identity groups. Each person can attend the group that feels right for them. To stay updated about upcoming workshop and retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list here.

Matthew Shaw is a BBC News Editor and founder of Fundamental, a new mental health initiative led by gay and bisexual men. He recently joined one of our 'Who am i?' virtual retreats, and has kindly agreed to share his experience. Who are you? My name is Matthew Shaw, and I am a BBC News Editor as well as the founder of Fundamental - a new mental health initiative led by gay and bisexual men. How did you find yourself doing what you are doing? I've worked at BBC News for 25 years and recognise now that remaining mentally healthy is something I must always work on. I had a period of depression in 2014 which knocked me for six - but with support from work, love from family and friends and a willingness to get better I got through it. This encouraged me to make the BBC even better for those of us who need help - and led me to a fellowship at the University of Michigan and serving on the government’s mental health in the workplace advisory committee. Now I’ve set up Fundamental - as I have found so many gay and bisexual men who are passionate about mental health. What have you learnt along the way? I have learned that getting men to talk about their mental health is hard. I truly think looking after your mind should be as acceptable, fun and inspirational as looking after your body or home. Fundamental is about the enjoyment of improving your mental health - we shouldn’t trivialise mental illness but we should make improving ourselves interesting, social and sometimes a laugh! Why did you get involved in the ‘Who am i?’ programme? As a 48 year old gay man who has seen a lot (been around the block is unfair) I celebrate that my journey has been relatively trouble free. But I know that despite our experience being a huge common denominator - gay men rarely talk together in groups beyond their immediate friends about what really matters to us. It’s not just a matter of safety in numbers - it’s both strengthening and revelatory to meet with people of different backgrounds who essentially share one hugely important factor in life. Did you make any changes off the back of the retreat? When I went to Michigan 5 years ago - my friends told me never to say no to an invitation or offer of friendship. To start again and free myself from any judgement or inhibition. The retreat reminded me of this so much - and inspired me to reach out to more men like me. It basically kickstarted Fundamental. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I have worked in media all my life surrounded by LGBTQ+ people - that’s been very fortunate. But I wouldn’t say I’m an active member of the community apart from being proud of my sexuality in the work I do. I want Fundamental to be a different approach to LGBTQ+ diversity - usually we are the add-ons to prove something is diverse. Fundamental puts us at the centre and invites allies from outside the community to prove we are for everyone. What’s the biggest challenge you’re working through? Surviving 2020 with a smile on my face. Living on my own has been a challenge - but I’ve worked so hard at spoiling myself, talking to friends and family, making home a haven and doing as much as I can to improve the lives of others. I appreciate I sound like a Miss World contestant. Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? That you can still grow from meeting new people. How do you ‘Create Space’? Time to breathe, time to enjoy simple stuff and time to give myself a pat on the back. @matthewshaw1 @fundamentalhealthuk fundamentalhealthuk.com To stay updated about upcoming 'Who am i?' retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list via our website.

Eduardo is an Oxford graduate from Colombia with a passion for philosophy and peace-building. He recently joined one of our 'Who am i?' virtual retreats for gay and bisexual men, and has kindly agreed to share his experience. Who are you? Well, my name is Eduardo Gutiérrez. Professionally speaking, I have a BA and an MA in philosophy, both from Colombia. And I have just finished a year-long MSt in Science & Religion at the University of Oxford (UK). I'm hoping to continue with doctoral studies along the same lines. I'm super interested in using imagination as a powerful tool to overcome false mental oppositions and to create new dialogues. I consider myself an empathic, curious, reflexive, and fast learning person. How did you find yourself doing what you are doing? Luckily I've been able to connect my personal journey and my spiritual inquiries to my academic work. At one point, I was managing several aspects of my life as independent silos, I felt deeply unsatisfied by the rigid and closed views I had on the world. Both my experience and my study of philosophy made me realise I needed to go through a period of intense auto-reformation. I have been working on that for the past two or three years: and here I am! What have you learnt along the way? I´ve learned that it is very easy to antagonise, but it´s much more demanding to harmonise. I think we have a strong tendency to see our lives in specific ways, and sometimes the habit is too strong and does not allow us to consider other options. The key, I believe, is a balance between what you know and what you do not; to maintain the views that have guided you through your life, but also be mindful that life itself might eventually suggest a change of course. Why did you get involved in the ‘Who am i?’ Programme? I actually found the programme by accident, scrolling down my Instagram feed. I first participated in one of the teaser-workshops and then on the two day retreat. I loved it. The idea of offering an open platform for gay or bi men to open up, discuss their own life experiences and share their views regarding identity and sexuality sounded like a valuable contribution to the LGBTQ+ world! What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I only recently came out as bisexual, so I believe I am still in exploratory mode. Although there are still lots of things I need to understand, the key point is that I've found myself surrounded by amazing people. Everyone has gone through something in order to find themselves, and build a space in society where they feel safe and secure. I completely identify with that struggle, and I think part of what drives me to participate in these workshops is my wish to learn more from other people's experiences. What’s the biggest challenge you’re currently working through? I think deep down, my fundamental challenge is to tear down walls and bridge different aspects of my life! Primarily the gap between my academic discussions and socio-political initiatives, but also between my bisexuality and my Catholic faith. I guess my desire to contribute to peace building processes in Colombia is also about bridging dialogues and fostering reconciliation. Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? I have found that there's a lot to learn from fellow LGBTQ+ people; that I need to work through my own childhood traumas and certain ideas I received about love; that it is totally worth it to share and connect with others’ emotions; and that re-connecting with my body, especially through practices like breathwork and meditation, can be a powerful way to unlock important information I need to grow more peacefully. How do you ‘Create Space’? I of course try to keep healthy habits in terms of eating, sleeping and exercising etc. In addition to that, I make an effort to pray and/or meditate at least three or four times a week; this keeps me centred and focused, and strengthens my connection to myself. I find that writing down what I think and feel is extremely useful when my emotions and ideas are a bit entangled. Reading literature is an important way for me to allow my imagination to roam freely, and this helps me to avoid single-minded views and be open to new possibilities. And finally, engaging dialogue with others (preferably over coffee) – this is also a fundamental part of my self-care. If you're interested in joining the 'Who am i?' programme, you can find out more here.

Daniel Pillai, the Canadian TV host and personality, is helping us Create Space for self-exploration, self-acceptance and self-care within the queer community. Daniel Pillai is the wonderfully exuberant writer, producer and media host based out of Toronto, Canada. He's also an openly gay man of south asian heritage who has what I'd describe as a very healthy obsession with the colour pink. As a boy he was bullied growing up for being flamboyant and effeminate. Today, it is refreshing and uplifting to witness how comfortable he clearly feels owning all aspects of his personality and multiple identities. Whether it be through his own social media channels or on mainstream television as a host, Daniel is always using his platform to uplift others. He doesn't shy away from "telling it how it is" and sharing his unique story of navigating the trials and triumphs as a gay man. We're elated to have Daniel join the Create Space team as a guest speaker on the 'Who am i?' Programme exploring identity as a gay man. I caught up with him over zoom a couple of weeks ago and had the pleasure of listening to him talk about his life, his career and his journey so far. Daniel grew up in Canada surrounded by a very large family and lots of strong women, including his mother, the youngest of 14 children - 9 of which were sisters. Daniel admits,"Women have been very prominent in my life. It was around women that I felt the most acceptance. I didn't feel like an outsider." Yet he acknowledges that it was still a very conservative family - half Christian and half Hindu - which contributed to a certain shyness and 'closing up' as a child struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. "If I am honest, I didn't allow myself to come out. I didn't ask myself the questions, or allow myself to have experiences. In some respects it didn't just feel as though I'd be disappointing my family. It felt as though I'd be disappointing an entire village!" It wasn't until he went to university that he truly came into his own. He also came out to his family and was shocked by some of the positive reactions he got. In particular from his Grandma, whom he told when she was in her 70s. "She had such a beautiful reaction. She was able to have a very loving conversation with me and accept me as I was." This experience has clearly influenced the way that Daniel approaches family life now. "Education and talking are key when it comes to navigating conflicting values and traditions. If there is an ear, there is an opportunity for a conversation." Speaking about his early early days as a gay man, Daniel recounts that he has never quite fitted into a pre-defined box within the LBTQ+ community. "I was always heavier set physically. I didn't fit into the norm in terms of what was considered attractive. I also was often one of very few people of colour 'on the scene'. So I found it a little bit uncomfortable at times. But I was lucky enough to meet some of my best friends, whom I still have today. For me it was almost like working backwards. I resonated with people, as opposed to a community. But by connecting with people, I found a sense of community." One thing Daniel admits that he is still working on is patience. But he recognises the power it holds. “Time can fix a lot of things. We are all evolving constantly. Accepting my sexuality, and all the other parts of what make me unique came from radical acts of self-love. From learning that I have the power and ability to be who I am despite the conditioning of my ethnic background, my religion, my society and my family." Daniel understands fully the importance of sharing, supporting and guiding others struggling with their identities and sexualities, which is why he is so excited about joining the Create Space team for the month of September as our guest speaker. "If I can encourage someone to love themselves and believe they are worth it, that small feeling can lead to something greater later on. And that’s pretty amazing!” Daniel will be joining the Create Space 'Who am I?' team for the month of September as our guest speaker. With places limited to fourteen participants on each monthly ‘virtual retreat’, it is a very intimate and confidential space. The programme offers the unique opportunity for participants to openly share and learn from each other’s' past experiences without judgement, building resilience together in the face of their collective adversity. You can follow Daniel here: danielpillai.com YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram

Lo Lo No is an artist and ex-fashion designer based in the seaside town of Margate, UK. They recently joined one of the Create Space 'Who am i?' virtual retreats, and has kindly agreed to share their story and experience. Who are you? My name is Lo Lo, I’m a multi disciplinary artist and my work now looks at identity and existence. Predominantly focused on the oppressed gendered feminine in the male and the experience of gender as a Hetrotopia. I often use myself as my subject and have found my art practice as an intrinsic part of my own investigation and restoration into self after a life time of challenges with my cognitive behaviours, my gender identity and destructive behaviours and addictions related to these challenges. I grew up in London and had a career in the fashion industry and loved living in East London until the culture there wasn’t benefiting me anymore and I was very unhappy and stuck in old habits. I know live by the sea in Margate with my pets and I am half way through a Masters in fine art. How did you find yourself doing what you are doing? I had to go through a period of being really lost. A few years ago I knew that change had to happen. I'd moved from London to Margate and was still doing some work with pop stars, but that work had no real meaning to me anymore. I had to completely stop and sit with not knowing. It was amazingly hard as I'd always had a plan and a vision. I actually debated retraining as a councillor to bring my holistic practices closer to my professional life. But in the end, through my yoga practice I was reminded that I'm an artist, a visual communicator and a thinker, interested in culture and have a history in activism. It took a while, but things started to fall into place and the MA opportunity appeared. Now I'm a student again and bolstering my practice and my knowledge. My aim is to simply gain a better understanding of myself and create work and is progressive for society and culture. What have you learnt along the way? I've learnt that you never stop learning. It's an ongoing process of looking, asking, being vulnerable, being open, accepting, forgiving and shaking it all off. If it’s painful, then it needs to be processed, otherwise it will just keep coming back. We are stronger understanding all aspects of ourself. I know now that no one is going to do this for me but good friends will be there to help and support me; and I've also learnt that sometimes I am the problem and not others. Changing the behaviours that we project onto other people is a great burden to lift. How was your experience of the ‘Who am i?’ Programme? I felt very lucky to be invited to take part. The weekend retreat was really insightful and reassuring to find this common ground between a group of queers who were all strangers. Did you make any changes off the back of the ‘work’ you did? I certainly gained some new insight and information. I was also able to vocalise an issue that I'd always had. That ‘masculinity’ and being ‘male’ is a big trigger for me. So many times through my life, experiences related to this have been traumatic, caused triggers and now exist as complexes. So I've been trying to heal that through my study and practice. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? Now it's very local and positive as I curate exhibitions of queer artists. My goal is to represent artists with other voices, outside of stereotypes who are less seen but are the heterogeneous of the community. I'm also one of the organisers of Margate Pride Festival and hadn’t really felt connected to Pride until being in a smaller community where visibility and inclusion are so important. The focus is creating bonds between the LGBTQ people and the town. What are you currently working through? Probably my gender identity and specifically how to publicly identify - my pronouns etc. I am working on understanding myself as a trans person who is living as male and AMAB (does that void my trans identity?) but has experienced different genders in their life. Questioning gender structures and a child’s experience of gender. Then how I relate to other men sexually and romantically, exploring the fetishisation of masculinity. How do you ‘Create Space’? I now know that I need time to recharge my batteries. That means down time, the right amount of sleep, healthy food and exercise. I don’t push myself if I'm not in the mood. I love seeing friends and socialising when I’m at high energy but that actually doesn’t happen that often, and thats ok. I spend a lot of time walking the dog, swimming in the sea, meditating at home and making work. They all help balance the way I approach this mentally. @lo_lo_no_ If you're interested in joining the 'Who am i?' programme, you can find out more here.

This lgbtq+ wellbeing workshop equips participants with new tools for self-empowerment and growth; challenging self-imposed narratives and bringing more awareness to the impact that our stories can have on deciding our own future. The power of story telling. Stories have a profound impact on us as human beings. They influence our mind, body and emotions. Our stories become our own personal maps as we navigate our way through life: acting as fundamental guides for how we relate, communicate with and understand one another and the world we live in - especially in this digital age. What stories have you been telling yourself recently? For some of us, sharing our 'story’ is integrated into everyday life. Perhaps even part of our job. And thanks to social media we can share at any time. Every single day we are presented with so many possible routes of disclosure - about our past, present and future. 2020 has been a challenging year for many, and it's certainly not over. But the content we now choose to project may well be what decides our future, and guides us towards our new goals. "You can't use an old map to explore a new world." - Albert Einstein Entering a new world, but still telling the same old story? It's human nature to find ourselves telling the stories we're simply used to telling. Even the stories we perhaps think the other person wants to hear. The stories we feel comfortable telling. Or the stories we feel we need to tell in order to be heard. But each and every time we present ourselves to the world we have the unique opportunity to reflect and question the validity of the information we are putting out there. If we don't challenge ourselves and question the familiar, then we run the risk of becoming our own personal narrative. It's so easy to get stuck and even develop self-limiting beliefs through the habitual and recurring story lines we tell ourselves. Are your stories empowering you or holding you back? Is it time to reset your narrative? What you could now ask yourself: Is this narrative depicting the most accurate, up-to-date and authentic version of myself? What impact are my stories having? (On myself, other people and society) What are my intentions and motivations? Have they shifted? What story could I be telling instead? Discover what's possible. By picking holes in our own narrative we are able to learn, grow and move forward. By listening to the voice of the unknown, exploring the possibilities, we can spot exciting new opportunities and bring about positive change in our own lives, and in the lives of others. About the workshop. This digital workshop series is inspired by John Paul Lederach’s theory of the Moral Imagination. We present the importance of imagination as a tool when questioning your own story. You will be invited to take part in various creative and interactive workshops to help you focus on the possibilities. Being able to envision yourself and others in different ways is a fundamental practice for self-reflection, conflict resolution and personal growth. During our three hour 'What's My Purpose?' workshop you will: Hear the inspiring stories of others who have shifted their personal narrative Recalibrate your perspective with examples of what’s possible in your life Challenge your assumptions about what’s limiting your capacity Explore why your mindset is key, and how entrenched beliefs can be transformed Key themes we'll use to explore, reflect and reset: 1. Relationships 2. Curiosity 3. Creativity 4. Risks Key self-care tools: We'll be incorporating tried and tested psychological and holistic practices such as journaling, group sharing, self-enquiry, breathwork and meditation. These will be interspersed with key teachings and developmental coaching practices. About the team. We personally design, organise and facilitate each of our retreats and workshops; partnering internationally with leading industry professionals in each sector. Throughout the duration of the retreat, you’ll work in close collaboration with each of the team members in respect of their given workshop. What do we offer? We are offering a safe yet playful space for you to get curious, open up and discuss with others, aspects of your life that you're finding challenging or want to improve. This is not group therapy. Instead, it is an opportunity to access wider teachings and peer support. We understand that some participants may be at different stages on their personal development journey. As a result, the event programme has been shaped to support newbies to kick start the self-exploration process, and to provide new tools and perspectives for more skilled participants to integrate in their road map. Please note - this is an LGBTQ+ workshop. This workshop is for those individuals who identify as part of the lgbtq+ community. Please respect this as it creates a safe space for all to share. Our partners. We are proud to partner with myGwork to deliver this wellbeing and self-empowerment workshop. myGwork is the business community for LGBT+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers and anyone who believes in workplace equality. Follow us on Instagram to find out more or hear when new dates are released: @wecreatespace.co

Ben Pechey and Eduardo Gutiérrez discuss creativity and risk, and how each have played a part in discovering their own unique personal purpose in life. About Ben: Ben is a non-binary writer, content creator, and LGBTQIA Activist. They aim to uplift and educate through media. They run their own website, are the host of The Happy Place podcast. Ben is a Create Space guest speaker but you can catch them delivering education and laughter daily via their legendary Instagram Stories. benpechey.com @benpechey Ben's Podcast - The Happy Place About Eduardo: Eduardo is an Oxford graduate from Colombia with a passion for philosophy and peace-building. He joined the Create Space team in 2020 after attending the 'Who am I?' virtual retreat, and now facilitates our 'What's My Purpose?' workshop. @eduardofgg Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

Aisha Shaibu and Maylis Djikalou discuss the role that our inner voices can play in shaping our own personal narrative. About Aisha: Aisha is an LGBTQ+ activist and founder of Moonlight Experiences, a social enterprise that connects queer travellers with trusted locals, so that they can explore a new location more authentically and as themselves. Aisha is also Head of Community Engagement at UK Black Pride, and a community event organiser who helps amplify marginalised voices and harnesses the economic power of LGBTQ+ tourism to support queer safe spaces. @aisha_shaibu_ About Maylis: Maylis is our event and experience coordinator. By profession she is a transformational coach and consultant. Maylis has 10 years’ experience working at the intersection of the fashion and mental health industries, curating international events and strategic partnerships to promote wellbeing in the workplace as competitive advantage. Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

In the lead up to our new workshop 'i See You, i See Me', we asked four Create Space team members to discuss their relationship with masculinity, sex and self-image. What barriers and societal structures currently surround masculinity? How do our other intersectional identities (race, religion, cultural background, gender etc…) interact with our own masculinity? How can we create space for more vulnerability, intimacy and self-love as a queer man? About our speakers: Jani Toivola is a writer, actor and speaker. With a mother from Finland and a father from Kenya, Jani was born and raised in Helsinki Finland. He served as an MP from 2011 to 2019. He is the first black member of the Finnish Parliament and one of the few openly gay politicians in Finland. His biggest political success was passing the same-sex marriage act in 2016. Before becoming a politician Jani was known as an actor and tv-host. He has published two books in relation to identity and fatherhood, and is currently working on his third book, a memoir about the male body experience. He's also developing a drama series for TV and is the proud father of a 7-year old. @janitoivo Jason Kwan is a dark pop singer/songwriter and a youth worker at AKT, a charity supporting young LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness across the UK. He is also a trustee at Male Survivors Partnership, supporting men, boys, trans+ people, and non binary people who have experienced sexual assault. Jason is a queer non binary person from Hong Kong, living in East London. @jasonkwanmusic Rico Jacob Chace is a videographer, writer and vocal activist, fighting avidly for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and Black people. As a board member of TransActual UK, he continues to strive to change UK legislation for non-binary equality and raise the Black Queer intersectionality question in all forums. He continues to speak out about the complexities of sexuality, gender and racial perceptions. And has also launched ‘Against Racism’, a nine-part show exploring the various forms of racism and how we collectively can make a difference. @rjchace Ajay Pabial is a London-based queer artist of South-Asian heritage on a mission to shine the light on other creatives from culturally diverse backgrounds and LGBT+ intersections. He runs his own social enterprise, Art Clubbers CIC, and he's a Civic Futures Fellow for the Mayor of London. He’s also on our Board of Directors at WE CREATE SPACE. @ajay_pabial i See You, i See Me Date : Saturday 4th September Time : 13:00 - 16:00 GMT / 8:00 - 11:00 EST Location : Virtual Audience : LGBTQ+ Cost : FREE (Donations accepted) A playful self-enquiry workshop for those wanting to explore their relationship with sex, masculinity and self-image. Led by a team of mentors and coaches, we'll start to challenge pre-conceived ideas of what it means to be a queer man in 2021. We’ll be introducing new teachings and tools for bringing about more awareness, compassion and intimacy when engaging with oneself and others. BOOK HERE or FIND OUT MORE

Spaces and platforms aren’t often designed with disabled people in mind, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Our team decided to come up with some simple suggestions, based on their own personal experiences of disability, to help those running organisations create spaces that allow their disabled community to thrive. Often, disabled access is treated as an afterthought. According to the office for National Statistics, just under half of disabled people in the UK are unemployed, and 3 out of 4 disabled people have left a public space, shop or business due to accessibility concerns. So what can we do to change that? How do we improve accessibility and let our queer disabled leaders flourish? We Create Space approached some of our disabled leaders within the queer community to get their personal thoughts on the topic. Here are some starting points for what you can do to help welcome more disabled people into your spaces. Keep asking questions. Not all disabled people are the same, and needs change from person to person. So what’s the best way to make your spaces more accessible? Ask! Go to members of your community and ask what would help make their lives easier. Think about what you can offer - in your professional space, is there an option to work from home? Do images in your social media posts have text descriptions? Tiny changes can make a great difference. “I think improvement in accessibility for disabled people can always be worked on. The range of experiences of disabled people is so large, whether the disability is physical, mental, or hidden; there’s no simple answer. We’re constantly changing and evolving.” - Coco (they/she) “To improve accessibility for deaf people, I’d first start by asking us what our needs are. Don’t assume that all deaf people are the same. Most importantly, just try! Never tell us “never mind, it doesn’t matter” and please don’t treat us like we’re fragile. Maybe write things down on your notes app/some paper, learn the basics of British Sign Language or simply point to things - as long as you try.” - Luke Christian (he/him) “Educating every person you meet on your medical history is less helpful than if they were to ask what they can do to make situations more accessible. All it takes are a few reasonable adjustments, and it is entirely possible for me to excel.” - Stewart O’ Callaghan (they/them) “Being disabled is exhausting. We have to adapt to a world that is not designed for us and often does not accommodate our needs. Believe disabled people when they say they are tired and provide adequate support.” - River Solace (they/them) “I battled for years to get previous employers to accept my request to work from home, and every time I asked for reasonable adjustments, I always felt like my requests were treated with suspicion... We need to honour the experience of LGBTQ+ disabled people, and cut through the constant gaslighting we face every day of our lives.” - Louie Stafford (he/they) Give disabled voices the floor. Don’t just ask what you can do for your disabled community - give them the platform to speak for themselves. Proactively prioritise the experience for disabled people by making sure they’re in the room for all of your decisions. Not only can elevating the voices, stories and perspectives of disabled leaders help you address accessibility in your community, but it also helps to break down misconceptions that wider society has about the disabled community. “I desire to serve as a possibility model for other queer disabled people to realize what is possible when one embraces every aspect of one’s identity.” - Mark Travis Rivera (he/him) “Seeing someone who looks like you succeed is powerful. Growing up under Section 28, we suffered a serious lack of public role models. Now, things are different - more queer disabled people can lift their own voices, and I think that brings us out of the “pity-lens” and into empowerment.” - Stewart O Callaghan (he/they) “As an ally, think about who is sat at the table. Disabled people can offer a unique perspective and deserve a place at the table to have their stories heard. Be aware that not all disabilities are visible. Always remember to pass the mic.” - River Solace (they/them) “Looking around, I see more and more people like me, taking up space and being open and honest about what they experience and what they need to thrive in this world, which inspires me to keep going and keep fighting for what I need!” - Louie Stafford (he/they) Encourage and help establish support systems. Try to help encourage relationships within your community. According to the Office for National Statistics, disabled people are almost four times more likely to report feelings of loneliness than non-disabled people. Set up safe, online spaces for your community to get to know each other. Setting up a group chat or regular wellbeing check-ins may not seem like much, but to those who struggle to get out and socialise it can make a huge difference. “As a disabled person, I find my strength through my support system - to have people around that understand my disabilities and allow me to flourish, without judgement. Power is something from within - it helps me take all the pain of myself and of people like me, and use it to prove to society that people with disabilities can be just as amazing and special as a ‘normal, able’ human.” - Coco (they/she) “When I was diagnosed with incurable cancer, I tried to attend the usual support they offered but it was overwhelmingly cisheteronormative and I couldn’t connect. I didn’t feel like I fit into the cancer community, so I turned to my LGBTIQ+ community. I had always given my energy to the cause through marches, press pieces and the like, but when it came time to receive that love back, I was totally unprepared for how powerful and life changing it would be.” - Stewart O Callaghan (they/them) “I have met many wonderful queer and autistic people online during lockdown who have helped me to understand myself better and given me a space to exist without judgement. I had no idea there was a whole community out there of people like myself.” - River Solace (they/them) “I used to love going out and clubbing and meeting strangers in smoking areas, but as I get older, I increasingly find the most solace in spaces where I can form genuine, sober connections with other trans and disabled people. It's through the conversations in those spaces that I learn the most about myself.” - Louie Stafford (he/they) Rethink "normal" and accept the unique. What isn’t a barrier to you can often be a barrier for someone else. Consider what you know as normal from a different perspective, and be open to suggestions of how your organisation can change the “normal” to create a more inclusive atmosphere for disabled people. Put the work in to make sure everyone has the tools they need to thrive. “Be prepared and be there to support us. I know there’s nothing more warming than someone who wants to get to know my disability. Be extra supportive and understanding, even with the things you don’t understand, try to - we’re not as complex as society makes out, we just were made with different tweaks and I think that’s the beauty of it.” - Coco (they/she) “What annoys me is when people make an excuse for not being accessible. "We don't have the funding" or "we didn't think about that in time". There's a lot of miscommunication and lack of understanding of what accessibility means, but also misunderstanding about the fact that accessibility is not one size fits all.” - Max Marchewicz (they/them) “When you are not affected by a barrier in society, it is easy to be oblivious to it. That is why it is so important to engage with the communities around you and to have humility in what you hear. Engage with us to find out what works for us. We are just people trying to live a full life, like everyone else.” - Stewart O Callaghan (they/them) “Having a disability is not something that stops us from having fun and being social. We may move or communicate differently, but what actually excludes us is lack of understanding and lack of accessibility.” - River Solace (they/them) “It is important to send a message to non-disabled people that difference makes us human and shouldn't be feared. The sooner we free ourselves from the pressures and boundaries we place on each other across society, the safer this world will be for everyone.” - Louie Stafford (he/they) Our Contributors: Mark Travis Rivera (he/him) Mark is an award winning choreographer, dancer, life coach and writer. He recently wrote this article on belonging as a disabled person. Mark is also the creator of the “Marking the Path” podcast and a published poet. Max Marchewicz (they/them) Max is a queer disabled activist and the creator of CrippleQueers, an instagram dedicated to boosting the visibility of queer disabled people. They are also a accessibility consultant and British Sign Language interpreter. Coco (they/she) Coco is a non-binary, LGBTQ+ mental health activist and writer. Talk to Coco has created a safe space for people all around the world to openly share their experiences, feelings and struggles. She prides herself on giving support, advice and mentoring with zero judgment, just pure love and transparency. Coco also volunteers for @ukblackpride, supporting Community Engagement. Luke Christian (he/him) Luke Christian a deaf, gay entrepeneur and is the CEO of Deaf Identity, a fashion brand dedicated to breaking down barriers and stigmas surrounding the deaf community through fashion. He also writes regularly on his own lifestyle and fashion blog. Stewart O'Callaghan (they/them) Stewart O’Callaghan is the founder and director of Live Through This, an organisation dedicated to supporting LGBT+ people affected by cancer. They are proud to work with multiple LGBT+ organisations and NHS hospitals in coordinating their efforts to improve inclusion in cancer care for all. River Solace (they/them) River is a autistic nonbinary songwriter and poet currently based in London. They use their music and artistic process to express not only their queer identity, but their own struggles with mental health and self image. They’re also the creative director of “The Soft Approach” zine. Louie Stafford (he/they) Louie is the managing director of Learnest, a trans-led Community Interest Company ran by and for LGBTQ+ people exploring the world of work and employment. They are a non-binary educator that lives with ADHD and Dyslexia, and use their experiences to help improve inclusivity in the workplace for queer people in the UK.

Our latest clothing collaboration with artist Thion celebrates the vibrancy and fluidity of queer identity and community as we aim to raise money and awareness for our ongoing LGBTQ+ wellbeing and mental health initiatives. To acknowledge 'Mental Health Awareness Month' in May and 'Pride' in June, We Create Space partnered up with Art Clubbers CIC, FANGIRL and QUEERCIRCLE to launch the 'Make Your Mark' design competition. We wanted to create a collection not only celebrating the queer community, but also spreading the We Create Space message of self-love, acceptance, and taking time for ourselves. Through this initiative, we crossed paths with Thion, an artist whose work centres around mental health and queer perspectives. Together we created a exciting new collection of merchandise - all available here, and with all profits going toward funding our free mental health workshops and webinars. Franco La Russa, also known in the artist community as Thion, is an Italian multimedia artist and curator currently based in South London. His work, originally inspired by Keith Haring and American pop artists, has evolved a unique, distinct style that’s truly his own. We sat down with Thion to talk about his personal journey, his artistic process and the unique designs that he created. creathion.com @thion_artist Franco, tell us a bit about your own personal journey... Growing up as a gay boy in catholic Italy I struggled to make sense of my sexuality and identity; who I was, and who I could be. I knew that I needed to put down on paper what I felt inside. I've always been better at expressing myself with drawing rather than words. I've found the creative process a useful outlet since a young age; a way to understand my feelings and the world around me. Discovering the vibrant gay scene made me want to represent it in my work and convey a sense of freedom that I missed in my early life; an important message to like, and to love, whoever you want. Those themes and the inspiring artworks of artist such as Keith Haring, Jean Cocteau, Matisse and Picasso led me to the path I’m now on. My minimalist style also comes from my desire to express things in a simple, direct way. I'm always searching for “the beauty” in people and capturing the things that fascinate me. Why did you want to work with WCS? I feel my work shares similar values as the ones promoted by We Create Space. It's very important that we continue the conversation around LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing and I wanted to contribute in any way I could. Talk us through your artistic style. Each composition focuses on the shapes that define and unite us as human-beings. By simplifying each individual figure to the point of abstraction, they create these beautiful gender-neutral forms, leaving just enough detail for us to understand, interpret and create our own meaning. The colours and the bold lines become the main component of the composition, and the mask-like faces guide the audience into my work. How do your pieces represent the queer community? Inspired by the work at We Create Space, this collection delves into queer identity, connection and community. It’s also a celebration of the 50+ years since the Stonewall riots; the monumental battle for equality that has improved the lives of so many LGBTQ+ people since. Of course, there is still much work to be done within and for the community. And that is why the programmes at We Create Space are so important and necessary. Each of the designs was inspired by and features colours from the iconic rainbow Progress flag. In these gender neutral pieces, colours become people, shapes become actions and faces capture feelings and emotions. The bold abstract figures are for you to interpret on your own, the definition unique to you. The 'We Create Space x Thion' collection is now available to purchase here, and 100% of the profits go towards our mission to provide free self-empowerment workshops and wellbeing support for the queer community. Each product is made to order, to keep the process as sustainable and waste-free as possible. Remember to @wecreatespace.co if you post a photo of you in your t-shirt. We'd love to see!

Our successful wellbeing series 'Me, My Body and I' is back; exploring the complex relationship we have with our bodies and unpacking some of the common self-image struggles that many of us face as part of the Queer Community. As queer people, the relationship with our bodies is complicated. It's no surprise that the LGBTQ+ community as a whole is disproportionately affected by poor self-image, eating disorders and body dysmorphia. In an Attitude magazine survey, only 1% of respondents said they were “very happy” with their body. Over 50%, however, said they were unhappy with it. Despite the incredible diversity contained within the LGBTQ+ community, we are still often presented with concepts of the 'ideal' gay man, trans woman, non-binary person. Striving for those ideals naturally puts a lot of pressure on our mental health; Gay and bisexual men are almost three times as likely to develop disordered eating habits as heterosexual men, and it’s well-known that those in the LGBTQ+ community already face more risk of mental health challenges. Those in the transgender and nonbinary communities often not only have to deal with body issues, but may have gender dysphoria added into the mix. Our bodies can get caught up in this tug of war of what society expects us to look like, and what we want to look like. Even outside of our queer identities, we are often taught to critique how we look and strive for improvement - even if that “better” isn’t realistic, possible or necessary. In the age of social media, we see perfect lives and beautiful bodies every day, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. This is just a few ways in which we are often led to believe that our bodies are flawed or imperfect. And whilst self-care and body-positive initiatives are certainly turning the tide, the journey to self-love is often difficult. As we found out in a recent panel discussion we hosted with four queer change-makers. So what can we do, as individuals, to improve our relationships with the person in the mirror? How do we begin to unpack the ideas of body image, self worth and toxic gendered expectations that weigh down our self image? In our upcoming free workshop 'Me, my body and I', taking place on Saturday 31st July, our team of LGBTQ+ wellbeing professionals will give participants some tools and techniques for challenging those toxic ideals and negative thoughts as they come up. All have experienced some of these issues first hand, and are keen to share how they improved their own mind-body relationships. At We Create Space, we believe that building a more compassionate relationship with your body is the first step towards acceptance and ultimately self-love. Me, My Body and I : Meet the team! Facilitator – Tash Thomas (she/her) Tash is a dancer and performer as well as being Diversity and Inclusion speaker and advocate, and so she’s well versed in listening to your body and using it as a tool for expression. She is also co-founder of ‘Breaking the Distance’, a unique LGBTQIA+ travel and relationship blog, (alongside her fiancé, Marthe). Breaking the Distance aims to educate and promote positive LGBTQIA+ visibility, whilst also providing a safe space for people to be their authentic selves. Co-Facilitator – Zacha Belok (he/him) Zacha is a Somatic Movement Therapist and Tamalpa Life/Art Process® Practitioner. Zacha compiles ten years of somatic research in his teachings to inquire more into where our words do not touch. He facilitates classes and holds one-to-one coaching sessions online that focus on developing body-based self-care routines for LGBTQ+ people. Guest Speaker – Eva Echo (she/her) Eva is a trans woman based in Birmingham. She is a writer, activist and currently a brand ambassador for the London Transgender clinic, a spokesperson for Gendered Intelligence, and founder of the #PassItOn campaign that encourages conversation around trans and non-binary people’s image standards. Experience Coordinator – Maylis Djikalou (she/her) Maylis has 10 years’ experience working at the intersection of the fashion and mental health industries, curating international events and strategic partnerships to promote wellbeing in the workplace as competitive advantage. Host and Founder of Create Space – Michael Stephens (he/him) After a series of life changing events, Michael diverted from his career path as a Creative Director, becoming an LGBTQ+ wellbeing advocate for UK charity, MQ Mental Health. He now runs WE CREATE SPACE, promoting the importance and value of self-care, specifically within the creative and LGBTQ+ Communities. Michael talks about his own struggles with an eating disorder here. Our next free workshop is on Saturday 31st July, and we’d love for you to join us. You can register for this event here.

When my job is my passion, how do I find work life balance? When your job is also your creative passion it's sometimes hard to find that work life balance. Especially if you are self-employed, free-lance, or own your own business. Our personal and professional lives often blend into one and switching off from work can feel like a distant dream. But why is it so important to find that balance? As ambitious, career-focused individuals, we're always trying to squeeze as much as possible into an already jam-packed schedule. Whether its a few emails before bed, a quick meeting over lunch, or pop into another friends birthday party at the weekend. Society has conditioned us to believe that it's good to be busy. Not just that, but we have started to rationalise our 'busyness' with 'being productive'. But are we? One of the effects of living a decent portion our social lives digitally through social media is that we’re often fixated on end results. The complete look, the finished piece, the climactic scene... We've normalised the image of 'perfection' and consider anything less than that incomplete and even unworthy of our attention. We easily dissociate the work, time and energy that goes into ‘creating’. The same can sometimes be said for how we view our own personal development, and the impatience we have when striving to look or feel a certain way. As we attempt to navigate our way through this fast-paced and ever-evolving world, we are responsible for managing our own resources and commitments - both personal and professional. Where we get our energy from, and how we use it. It’s not uncommon for our mental health and physical health needs to sometimes get put on hold. However, the repercussions can be dangerous, with occupational burnout already reaching epidemic levels in several countries. With our personal energy fuel tank starting to empty, some of our most precious attributes also begin to fade, such as our creativity, intuition and positive energy. These are the very things that make us unique, valuable and brilliant at our jobs. Many people are now asking themselves 'how do I find work life balance?'. Recognising the significance of a balanced personal and professional life is the first step. The next is actively exploring new ways to slow down, prevent exhaustion, and build resilience. In a series entitled ‘Create Space, Repeat’, we’re asking established individuals who work in creative fields about the importance of their ongoing self-care routine. In a fast-paced and competitive landscape where speed is everything, we’re hoping to highlight the significance of slowing everything down and consistently 'Creating Space' for yourself. Taking a break to reset shouldn’t be seen as a hindrance, but an opportunity to come back with more energy, enthusiasm and new creative ideas. Serena Guen, Suitcase Magazine. What do you CREATE and why? I founded Suitcase in 2012, while studying at NYU as I identified a gap in the market for an authentic, well-curated travel platform. We aim to make it easier for people to travel further and deeper through our content and hopefully soon by helping our readers build those experiences IRL. How do you find SPACE? My routine incorporates pilates in the morning and reading before bed. In my free time I’ll spend weekends away when I can, and always find the time for friends and family after work or on weekends. I also like to spend a lot of time in nature! When and where do you RETREAT? I actually go to the Maldives at the end of every year. I’m very spoiled I know!!! The highlands and Tuscany are also a couple of my favourite places that I go back to often. @serenaguen @suitcase suitcasemag.com Pepä Ivanoff, Artist. What do you CREATE and why? I'm a muralist, surfer, equestrian and traveler, and I have made my art my life. I create because it sparks joy in me, and in those around me. I love to create beautiful spaces in collaboration with beautiful people in beautiful locations. I've been fortunate enough to create in California, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru. How do you find SPACE? My mornings are sacred and my rituals inspire my day. If there are waves, I start my day in the ocean surfing. On land, I read a daily passage from my book on Taoism, write in my journal, meditate and pull tarot cards. I trust my intuition and pay special attention to energy, in all of its forms. I feel fortunate that my work as an artist serves as a form of meditation and a creative outlet. When and where do you RETREAT? I have a reverence for nature and solitude, therefore I often retreat into the ocean or on horseback. I almost always travel somewhere warm and tropical, as this type of climate and the nature that it produces both inspires and relaxes me. @pepallama Patrick Wilson, Hair Stylist. What do you CREATE and why? I’m a session stylist, originally from Liverpool, but moved to London for my career. Like most hairdressers, I started out in a salon. I then moved on to work backstage at fashion weeks before finally deciding to pursue a full-time career in session hair. Everyday is totally different now; I could be working on set or getting a celebrity ready for an appearance or red carpet. I really love the fact that I’m not in the same salon space day-in day-out - I find it exciting! How do you find SPACE? I like to work out, ideally 4 times a week. But it’s not always possible with early call times and late finishes. As a hairstylist it’s really important to look after my back. Often I have to carry a big kit-bag around, lifting it up flights of stairs etc. So I like to visit Masaj in London for regular massages. Sometimes I can get a little bit overwhelmed with deadlines and everything happening at once. Things can come up really last minute with work so It’s quite hard to plan. But my partner Liam is a big help with organisation, admin and just generally being a big support! When and where do you RETREAT? My happy place has to be Mykonos, we really love it. I guess to feel totally comfortable and not feel judged on your sexuality. The food is great, you can chill in the day and if you want to go out you can. Most people think of Mykonos as a party island, but honestly it’s the most peaceful place. @patrickwilson Georgie Mason, Artist. What do you CREATE and why? I paint abstract scenes that are based on memory and intuition. I use a variety of media; from oil paint and pigments to sand, mud, sawdust and other found materials.  Every painting tells a story - an amalgamation of moments, emotions, energy and materials that went into its making. I value the art making process for its therapeutic benefits just as much as aesthetic output. I do this work because of its capacity for self-exploration. How do you find SPACE? Self-care is my top priority, above everything else. Without good mental health every other area suffers. I do yoga daily, meditate at the Buddhist Centre or just in my room most days, I practise gratitude and journal every day, I dance Forro (a Brazilian dance that makes me feel amazing), I have psychotherapy; the list goes on. I'm also incredibly grateful to have a network of close friends and family who I can talk to about anything. I try to keep a 'beginner's mind' attitude towards life, where rather than exist within a world view determined by habitual thoughts, I lower my expectations and get curious about things in order to keep a fresh perspective. (It's a work in progress!) When and where do you RETREAT? For me traveling is like pressing reset. I try and go away every winter and when I do, I am reminded that anxiety and stress isn't the natural human state. Without the pressure from ourselves and society, we are actually innately content, at peace, in harmony with the world. This brief glimpse of the truth gives me enough to get through the rest of the working year (I haven't managed a trip this year yet but hoping to get away at some point). Aside from leaving the country, my retreat is my meditation den in my room: it's a load of cushions, candles, plants and books piled up on my bay window seat and I love it there. Being up on a high ledge makes me feel elevated and separate from normal life. I can switch off and tune into my body and it's blissful. @georgiesmason @georgiesartclasses georgiemason.co.uk Aleksandra Kingo, Photographer. What do you CREATE and why? I create colourful surreal worlds, in which lipstick stains are a blessing and champagne baths are perfectly casual. I am a photographer and director working in fashion and advertising. I also have also created a new human not that long ago! How do you find SPACE? Being a creative, a mother of a 4 year old and an overachiever, it’s hard! Sometimes I simply stop everything, lie down and breathe slowly when I get too overwhelmed. Learning to stay in the moment and enjoying one thing at the time is key. When and where do you RETREAT? I try to travel and see the world as much as I can, being in a new environment and learning new things is the ultimate retreat for me. But sometimes simple moments like morning toddler cuddles are the most valuable. @aleksandrakingo @aleksandrakingodiary aleksandrakingo.com Damian Garozzo, Makeup Artist. What do you CREATE and why? I’m an Australian Makeup Artist based in Paris, working in beauty advertising and red carpet, as well as consulting, education and public speaking for beauty brands. The best part of this job is the fact that every day I get to collaborate with a different team, often from different corners of the globe. In an effort to pursue new challenges, I’m also currently working with some very talented colleagues on a documentary series drawing attention to the struggles of LGBT+ youth displaced from their homes. No two work days are the same, and I wouldn’t change it for the world! How do you find SPACE?: Finding and creating space for myself is something that I have to consciously work really hard at, because I’m a bit of a workaholic! If I’m not meditating, which I try and do as often as possible, then I’m cooking. When and where do you RETREAT? I’m lucky in that I married someone with the same travel style as me: « fare niente! » I tend to seek out places where we can be completely secluded and self contained, nothing fancy, but somewhere we can be by the ocean or high up in the mountains, sunset views a bonus. We cook, hike, read, meditate and try our best to disconnect (while also doing our best to turn off our phones!). I always need a few weeks out of the year not to think about lipstick and mascara, dig my feet in the sand and put the world on pause for a while! @damiangarozzomakeup damiangarozzo.com Eva Ramirez, Travel Journalist What do you CREATE and why? Born in Gran Canaria to a Spanish mother and Lebanese father, I moved from Sierra Leone to London when I was 3 years old. I started out in the fashion industry after obtaining a BA (Hons) Journalism degree, holding positions with Alexander McQueen, The British Fashion Council and WGSN. I now work for myself as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer. I balance this with brand work, creating content and consulting on social media for food and wellness companies. I'm also on the advisory board for a nonprofit which fuses yoga, travel and philanthropy to empower young women through education. How do you find SPACE? Self-care to me is knowing when to tune in and listen to my needs, whether they are emotional, physical or mental. It's not always bubble baths and massages - sometimes self-care is cancelling plans when I know I need rest, checking in with my priorities when I know I am procrastinating, or making time to ensure my flat is clean and tidy. I find comfort in friends and family who I am very open with, and I journal a lot too. Movement, whether it's gentle yoga or exercise helps me too. Stepping out of a situation and focussing my attention on something totally different always helps me find a new perspective. When and where do you RETREAT? As a travel writer I often don't choose where I travel to, and sometimes there is no time for relaxation as I am always thinking and working. That being said I've been on some incredible retreats - digital detoxes in Arizona, plant-based hiking in The Pyrenees, luxury wellness in Marbella. But really, it's a back-to-basics approach I love best. I'm most content in my grandmother's home in the Canary Islands, surrounded by family, friends and home-cooked food. @evieramirez evaramirez.co.uk Egle Plytnikaite, Illustrator. What do you CREATE and why? I create minimal, colourful and conceptually driven illustrations, often utilising subtle textures that give my work a vintage warmth. I use my illustrations as a tool to talk about various difficult subjects like feminism, environmental problems and so on and see it as a great medium to reach a wide audience. How do you find SPACE? Every single weekend I do my best to leave my beloved city Vilnius and disconnect from everything at our little cob house into the woods. I spend hours walking in the forest and lying in the bath which helps me to find peace and clear my thoughts. When and where do you RETREAT? I love active retreats and my favourite way to restart my system is to challenge my body. I love hiking and rock climbing so every year together with my husband we pack our backpacks and get out from our comfort zone while hiking in Andean or Himalayan mountains. @egle.plytnikaite egle.plytnikaite.com Laird Kay, Photographer. What do you CREATE and why? I’m an aviation photographer – and I love planes. I see planes as giant sculptures – with beautiful lines, sleek curves, and machines that embody the wonderment of travel. To me, they are magical machines that bring people closer together, and allow us to experience the cultures of the world. How do you find SPACE? I’m self employed, so I’m lucky that I take gigs that I want. While it means that I’m my own boss (a stress in itself), it also means that I can take time when I need it. To keep myself fresh and creative, I give myself monthly goals to push myself to constantly evolve and improve my skills. When and where do you RETREAT? I love open spaces to re-energise and think. The most magical and calming place I’ve been is the Atacama Desert in Chile – the driest place on earth! The landscapes are other worldly – areas that look like the moon, then giant white salt flats filled with flamingos, and volcanic lakes that like mirrors. And because of its incredibly high altitude, it’s a landscape that truly slows you down. @lairdkay lairdkay.com A big thank you to all those who contributed to this piece. Why not take a look at the upcoming workshops we have available to join? #LGBTQIA+ #LGBTWellbeing #SelfCare #Wellness #LGBTCommunity #Resilience #Reset #CreativeRefresh #PersonalGrowth #Retreat #CreativeEntrepreneur #ReclaimYourCreativity #CreatingSpace #Healthymind #Mentalwellbeing