The Collective

In this episode Laura interviews Georgie Grant, Co-Director of The Onion Collective CIC based in Watchet, West Somerset. “The Onions” met as a group of mums in the town – some local and some new, but all with a desire to improve the area for their children. Bringing their skills, and friendships, to the table they set about to find out what the residents of Watchet also wanted to see happen to improve where they live.

Over years of development and fundraising the result is a fascinating new building.

Recently opened, the East Quay development is a community hub, youth space and art gallery. The ideas of generations of the town fed into the design but it was this group of mums driving it to happen over 9 years.

To find out more about East Quay: https://www.eastquaywatchet.co.uk/

The current exhibition by artist Bedwyr Williams: https://www.eastquaywatchet.co.uk/events/exhibition-the-see-wall

Architecture article on the building: https://architecturetoday.co.uk/east-quay-arts-centre/

The Watchet Boat Museum: https://www.onioncollective.co.uk/boatmuseum

Valentine, the Carol Ann Duffy poem that inspired their name: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/valentine/

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

From Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

 

I hope you enjoy hearing about this group of women - their achievements for their own kids and their whole community. It would be much appreciated if you could rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. And do follow East Quay and Mother of All Solutions on social media at @eastquaywatchet / @SolutionsMother

The podcast is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser.