The Full Story
Organisational Profile
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC is a registered Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting African arts, culture and heritage as powerful tools for creativity, wellbeing, education, community development and social change.
Working primarily across Birmingham and the wider Midlands, with ambitions to extend our programmes across the UK and internationally, AFRO Creative Legacy CIC creates inclusive opportunities for individuals, families, creatives, young people, entrepreneurs and communities to connect with African culture, develop skills, express themselves creatively and participate more fully in social and economic life.
Our work responds to key socio-economic challenges affecting communities, particularly minority and underrepresented groups, including poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, social isolation, loss of cultural identity, limited access to creative and educational opportunities, skills gaps, unemployment and underemployment.
We believe that African arts, culture and heritage are not only valuable forms of cultural expression—they are practical tools for learning, healing, connection, enterprise and community transformation.
Our Vision
A thriving, inclusive and culturally confident society where African arts, culture and heritage inspire creativity, strengthen identity, improve wellbeing and create pathways to social and economic empowerment.
We envision communities where people are able to celebrate their heritage, develop their talents, access meaningful opportunities, build sustainable livelihoods and contribute positively to the wider society.
Our Mission
To inspire creativity and wellbeing through African arts, culture and heritage by delivering inclusive programmes, education, enterprise opportunities and community-led initiatives that address key socio-economic challenges.
Our mission is particularly focused on supporting communities experiencing barriers relating to:
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Mental health and emotional wellbeing
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Loss of cultural identity and self-worth
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Social isolation and lack of community connection
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Skills gaps and limited access to learning
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Unemployment and underemployment
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Limited access to creative and cultural opportunities
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Barriers to entrepreneurship and economic participation
Through our programmes, events, learning activities, cultural spaces and marketplace initiatives, we create opportunities for people to connect, create, learn, participate, earn and thrive.
Our Purpose
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC exists to benefit communities by promoting, preserving, developing and celebrating African arts, culture and heritage while using cultural activity as a pathway to wellbeing, inclusion, learning and economic empowerment.
We recognise that cultural identity can play an important role in people's sense of belonging, confidence and self-worth. We therefore create spaces where African heritage can be celebrated and shared while encouraging meaningful interaction between different cultures and communities.
Our approach brings together:
This integrated model enables us to address social and economic challenges through accessible, engaging and culturally relevant activities.
Our Strategic Objectives
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC seeks to:
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Promote African arts, culture and heritage through educational, creative and community activities.
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Improve wellbeing by providing accessible opportunities for creative expression, social connection, cultural participation and positive engagement.
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Strengthen cultural identity and confidence by helping individuals and communities understand, celebrate and preserve their heritage.
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Develop skills and employability through practical training, creative learning and vocational opportunities.
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Support entrepreneurship and economic participation by creating platforms for African and culturally diverse businesses, creatives, makers and entrepreneurs.
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Reduce social isolation by creating welcoming community spaces and activities that encourage participation and connection.
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Increase access to cultural opportunities for young people, families, adults, older people and underrepresented communities.
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Create sustainable community assets and cultural spaces that can support long-term social, cultural and economic development.
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Promote cross-cultural understanding and social cohesion by sharing African culture with wider communities.
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Create opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration locally, nationally and internationally.
Our Four Departments
Our work is delivered through four interconnected departments, creating a holistic model that links culture, learning, community participation and economic opportunity.
Our Integrated Community Development Model
The four departments are designed to work together rather than operate as isolated services.
For example, an individual may:
Discover Culture → Participate in Creative Activity → Develop Skills → Create a Product or Service → Showcase Their Work → Access Customers → Develop an Enterprise
Similarly, a young person may:
Attend a Cultural Programme → Build Confidence → Learn Creative/Digital Skills → Develop Their Talent → Participate in an Event → Connect with Mentors and Opportunities
This integrated approach enables AFRO Creative Legacy CIC to support people at different stages of their personal, creative and economic journey.
Our Target Communities
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC seeks to:
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Promote African arts, culture and heritage through educational, creative and community activities.
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Improve wellbeing by providing accessible opportunities for creative expression, social connection, cultural participation and positive engagement.
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Strengthen cultural identity and confidence by helping individuals and communities understand, celebrate and preserve their heritage.
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Develop skills and employability through practical training, creative learning and vocational opportunities.
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Support entrepreneurship and economic participation by creating platforms for African and culturally diverse businesses, creatives, makers and entrepreneurs.
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Reduce social isolation by creating welcoming community spaces and activities that encourage participation and connection.
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Increase access to cultural opportunities for young people, families, adults, older people and underrepresented communities.
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Create sustainable community assets and cultural spaces that can support long-term social, cultural and economic development.
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Promote cross-cultural understanding and social cohesion by sharing African culture with wider communities.
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Create opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration locally, nationally and internationally.
Our Community Spaces
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC aims to establish and operate African community arts and cultural centres that provide accessible spaces for creativity, learning, cultural celebration, enterprise and community connection.
These spaces can function as:
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Arts and cultural centres
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Community hubs
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Learning spaces
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Exhibition spaces
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Performance venues
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Workshop facilities
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Meeting and networking spaces
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Creative studios
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Enterprise and marketplace spaces
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Cultural heritage centres
Our long-term ambition is to develop vibrant, welcoming and sustainable cultural spaces that become valuable community assets. We also seek to manage and support cultural facilities in ways that improve operational efficiency, sustainability and energy use while contributing to safe, distinctive and resilient communities.
Our Approach to Wellbeing
Our long-term ambition is to develop vibrant, welcoming and sustainable cultural spaces that become valuable community assets. We also seek to manage and support cultural facilities in ways that improve operational efficiency, sustainability and energy use while contributing to safe, distinctive and resilient communities.
Cultural Identity and Heritage
We believe that cultural heritage is a valuable community asset.
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC seeks to preserve and promote African heritage while making it accessible and relevant to contemporary communities.
Through our programmes, we aim to:
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Preserve cultural knowledge
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Promote African languages
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Encourage intergenerational knowledge transfer
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Celebrate African traditions
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Document and share cultural stories
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Support cultural practitioners
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Promote African creative expression
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Increase cultural confidence
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Encourage young people to engage with their heritage
Our work also creates opportunities for wider communities to learn about the diversity of African cultures and challenge stereotypes through authentic cultural engagement.
Skills, Employability and Economic Empowerment
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC recognises that skills development and economic participation are essential components of sustainable community development.
Our programmes therefore create pathways for people to develop practical skills in areas such as:
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Digital technology
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Catering
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Fashion
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Hair and beauty
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Arts and crafts
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Music
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Performance
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Cultural production
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Entrepreneurship
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Creative enterprise
Through the combination of education, events and the African Community Marketplace, we aim to help people move from participation to progression.
This could include progression into:
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Employment
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Self-employment
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Entrepreneurship
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Freelancing
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Creative careers
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Further education
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Volunteering
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Community leadership
Our Expected Impact
Through our programmes and services, AFRO Creative Legacy CIC aims to contribute to measurable improvements in community wellbeing and opportunity.
Wellbeing
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Improved emotional wellbeing
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Increased confidence
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Greater social connection
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Reduced isolation
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Increased positive participation
Cultural Identity
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Stronger sense of cultural identity
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Increased cultural pride
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Greater awareness of African heritage
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Increased intergenerational knowledge sharing
Skills and Employability
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Increased practical and creative skills
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Improved digital capability
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Increased confidence in employment and enterprise
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Improved access to learning opportunities
Economic Participation
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Increased visibility for small businesses and entrepreneurs
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New opportunities to showcase and sell products and services
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Development of creative enterprises
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Increased networking and market access
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Potential pathways to income generation
Community Cohesion
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Increased interaction between different communities
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Greater understanding of African cultures
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Stronger community networks
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Increased participation in shared cultural experiences
Measuring Our Impact
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC is committed to understanding and demonstrating the difference our work makes.
Depending on the programme, we may measure:
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Number of participants engaged
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Participant demographics and reach
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Attendance and repeat participation
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Skills gained
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Training completion
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Participant confidence
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Wellbeing outcomes
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Social connection
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Cultural knowledge and engagement
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Progression into employment, training or enterprise
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Number of artists and creatives supported
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Number of businesses participating in marketplace activities
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Products and services showcased
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Enterprise and networking opportunities created
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Community partnerships established
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Volunteer engagement
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Participant feedback and testimonials
We will combine quantitative data with qualitative evidence, including participant stories, case studies, feedback and community-led evaluation.
Our Values
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Cultural Pride
We value African heritage and promote positive, authentic and diverse representations of African cultures.
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Inclusion
We create welcoming opportunities where people from different backgrounds can participate, contribute and connect.
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Creativity
We believe creativity can unlock confidence, learning, wellbeing and new possibilities.
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Community
We put people and communities at the centre of our work and encourage community participation and leadership.
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Empowerment
We seek to equip people with the knowledge, skills, confidence and opportunities to shape their own futures.
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Sustainability
We aim to create programmes, partnerships, enterprises and community assets that can generate lasting social, cultural and economic value.
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Collaboration
We believe meaningful change is achieved through partnership, shared knowledge and collective action.
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Respect
We value cultural diversity, lived experience, individual contribution and the different traditions represented within our communities.
Our Long-Term Ambition
AFRO Creative Legacy CIC aims to become a recognised organisation and community development platform for African arts, culture and heritage. Our long-term ambition includes developing a network of programmes, partnerships, cultural spaces and enterprise opportunities that can:
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Increase access to African arts and culture
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Support emerging creatives
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Develop community skills
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Strengthen cultural identity
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Improve wellbeing
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Support entrepreneurship
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Create economic opportunities
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Build community assets
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Encourage intergenerational learning
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Promote cross-cultural understanding
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Connect local communities with national and international opportunities
We want to demonstrate that culture can be a powerful driver of social wellbeing, education, community cohesion and economic development.
Our Theory of Change
Our approach can be summarised through a simple progression:
COMMUNITY NEEDS
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Mental health challenges
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Cultural disconnection
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Social isolation
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Skills gaps
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Limited opportunities
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Unemployment and underemployment
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Barriers to enterprise
OUR RESPONSE
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Arts & Culture
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Education & Skills
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Community Events
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African Community Marketplace
PARTICIPATION
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Create
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Learn
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Connect
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Perform
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Celebrate
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Trade
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Collaborate
OUTCOMES
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Improved wellbeing
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Greater confidence
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Stronger cultural identity
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New skills
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Greater social connection
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Increased creative participation
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Improved enterprise opportunities
LONG-TERM IMPACT
Stronger, healthier, more culturally confident and economically empowered communities.
Our Commitment
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AFRO Creative Legacy CIC is committed to ensuring that African arts, culture and heritage remain living, accessible and valuable resources for present and future generations.
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We will continue to develop programmes that place communities at the heart of decision-making, encourage participation, create opportunities for learning and creativity, and support people to build stronger and more fulfilling futures.
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Our work is rooted in a simple belief:
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Culture can create connection
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Creativity can create confidence.
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Skills can create opportunity.
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Enterprise can create economic participation.
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Community can create lasting change.
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AFRO Creative Legacy CIC
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Inspiring Creativity. Strengthening Identity. Empowering Communities.