Help us continue to bring valuable creative projects to young refugees and asylum seekers and document their experiences through the arts.

We’ve created a film made in lockdown! On-The-Line - with over 40 young refugees and asylum seekers. But this is just the start for us! We want to build on the momentum we’ve created. We will continue working with our talented cast, proving vital creative activities to keep them engaged and connected during the pandemic.

Many of us have come to understand the feeling of loneliness and isolation as a result of lockdown. But this is systemic for young refugees and asylum seekers. Without family in the UK to support them, without equal opportunities, without the right to study further education or the right to work, they are among those who are left more vulnerable. They must be allowed to develop their skills and talents, and it is our mission to help nurture and support them.

Due to the pandemic 90% of the creatives involved in this project are out of work. Help us provide valuable employment for them to document the young people's experience of lockdown using the arts.

Who we are

Compass Collective is a non-profit theatre company working with people seeking sanctuary. We deliver theatre projects, arts-based professional development programmes, and one-off drama workshops. The aim of our work is to strengthen communities, build resilience and help people seeking sanctuary integrate into the UK.

We are a small non-profit organisation that relies on donations to continue our valued community projects.

What is our idea?

We will keep working with our talented cast during the pandemic and continue to provide platforms for them to meet virtually and to showcase their skills. Our weekly workshops keep them engaged in creative activities as well as provide a vital support group during this challenging time of isolation.

We want to provide materials for them to develop their skill sets, such as tripods to film themselves, a camera for our talented photographer Z.S, recording equipment for our musicians etc. In addition, we want to include a care package for all the young people that have are part of this project including a voucher, t-shirt, certificate and card

Why we need your help

We are thrilled to have got Emergency Arts Council Funding. However it does not cover the full cost of our work. We did not anticipate how big our project would become. We’ve worked with over 60 participants, with an outreach spanning across the UK. The demand for our work and the talents of our young people have driven this ambitious project to another level.

We have relied on the generosity of over 20 creatives to bring the young people’s talents to the screen for On-The-Line. Most of us are self employed and are out of work due to the pandemic. We would like to give everyone a contribution towards their time for On-The-Line, and continue to support them as we carry on working together.

We’re committed to professional standards of work and to providing platforms for more positive narratives about refugees and asylum seekers; to amplifying their voices.

Meet the Team

Compass is made up of a group of six artistic professionals united in our desire to provide a space for cultural sharing and learning. Collectively we have worked in over 70 refugee centres across Europe and the Middle East. We have a mix of educational backgrounds and experiences, with extensive knowledge about the art and refugee sectors. Our assistant producer has lived experience as a refugee and offers us a valuable insight into how to best work with our participants.