Students “Create for a Cause” at UCL East Mosaic Workshop
By Vishal Saha
A creative mosaic workshop at UCL East, led by Ella Page, Community Engagement Coordinator for Student Social Impact at Students’ Union UCL, brought students together last month to create artwork for a local community garden.
Run in collaboration with Rosetta Arts, a local community arts organisation, and Abbey Gardens in Newham, the session invited students to design and make their own mini mosaic tiles — all of which will be donated to Abbey Gardens to brighten up the shared green space.
“The aim of this event, given that it was right after Welcome [Fest], was to give students an opportunity to do something really enjoyable and creative,” said Ella. “But we also wanted to introduce the idea that we’re part of a community in East London.”
The workshop formed part of a wider initiative to connect students with local causes and charities right on their doorstep. By partnering with Rosetta Arts, the team were also able to support a local organisation they already work closely with through volunteering and research projects.
“It was really important that it wasn’t just us facilitating a workshop,” she explained. “We wanted a community group to provide their service to members of the community — in this case, students — and Rosetta Arts were perfect for that.”
Around 20 people joined the session, including 13 students, Rosetta Arts facilitators, and volunteers. The atmosphere was relaxed and social, with music playing as participants worked on their designs and chatted around shared tables.
“It was lovely to see that most students had come on their own and were socialising, making friends and connections with people they didn’t know,” she reflected. “Particularly at UCL East, where there are lots of Master’s students here for just a year, it was a great way for people to start building their community.”
As well as being a creative outlet, the event introduced students to the Students’ Union’s social impact and volunteering programmes, showing how they can get involved with meaningful projects during their time at UCL.
“We wanted to showcase all the different ways students can make a difference to causes they care about,” she said. “Hopefully it sparks that interest in continuing to engage with social impact programmes throughout the year.”
For anyone unsure about joining future workshops, the message is simple: just give it a try.
“You’re never going to walk away from one of these events wishing you hadn’t done it,” she smiled. “You’ll leave having connected with other students, had fun, and made a positive impact on a local cause.”
Upcoming social impact events like this can be found on the What’s On calendar or through the Student Social Impact newsletter, which highlights creative and community-focused volunteering opportunities across London.
“It’s okay not to know where to start,” she added. “Students can always reach out to the team — we’re really happy to chat about their interests and help them find a way to make a difference.”