The Make It Happen Café! is a new multilingual social space in Peterhead where visitors can learn English, be creative, contribute to their local community and more. From 25 to 30 July an exciting programme of workshops will get people talking about living in Peterhead, encourage them to meet new people, and to create animations, comics and models. Their artworks will be shown in the Arbuthnot Museum later in the year.

The café is a collaboration between the University of Glasgow's Social Support and Migration in Scotland research project (SSAMIS), Modo, The Workers Educational Association, Peterhead Projects, Aberdeenshire Community Learning and Development, and Caged Beastie, creative artists.

SSAMIS works with migrants from Eastern Europe who have settled in Scotland. The researchers are intersted in what brought them here and what makes them feel settled, in terms of language, employment, culture and belonging. Their research shows that people would welcome a community space where different groups could go, meet new people, share skills and information, and practice speaking English over a cup of coffee.

Modo uses circus to engage young people across Aberdeenshire and to help them to change their lives for the better. Harnessing the skills and thrills of circus, Modo helps young people to improve life chances, skills, confidence and self-esteem while celebrating and creating the culture and community of the region.

Claire Needler, researcher on SSAMIS said "I met Martin Danziger from Modo, talked about the key themes of the SSAMIS research and my plans for a community-led exhibition. He told me about Modo’s youth café, and the idea for The Make It Happen Café was born!"

For more information

First published: 25 July 2016

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