Radical Gifting is a collaboration between People United, artists, people experiencing social isolation and the organisations and individuals who support them.  

Weaving a web of care through intimate creative sessions, making, giving and receiving, Radical Gifting fosters wellbeing and generates meaningful connections by reconnecting people to coastal ecosystems in East Kent and beyond.

“The experience has reminded me how important conversational flow is to the process of co-creating, and to any socially engaged creative practice. It has shaken my practice in an unexpected way and made me reflect deeply on the organic nature of creativity and its inseparable link to senses and interpersonal connections. I have found that after the experience I myself feel a greater connection to the coast and feel inspired.” – Maggie, Artist 

People standing on sandy beach facing the water.
Radical Gifting Coastal Immersion Session led by coastal permaculture group Flints
Several people sit around a bowl of water, the East Kent coast is within view behind them, as well as a bright blue sky.
Radical Gifting Coastal Immersion Session led by coastal permaculture group Flints
One woman is kneeling holding wicker materials to another, who is in a wheelchair, across a table.
Radical Gifting collaboration session between artist, Maggie, and participant, Jan
Two women at a table looking at and holding a shell, examining it's colour and texture.
Radical Gifting by Maggie Huiming Yang, Louise Beer and Rachel Ella Taylor
Photo taken from above looking at a table where two people are binding pages of photos, printed text and blank paper into notebooks with handmade paper covers.
Radical Gifting co-creation session with Porchlight's Open Door group
Photo of a person in a community hall holding up an open notebook on which is written
Radical Gifting by Maggie Huiming Yang, Louise Beer and Rachel Ella Taylor
Photo of two people sitting in arm chairs in a living room. A younger man in one chair is holding out a small brown cardboard box wrapped with jute ribbon to an older woman sitting in the chair next to him.
Radical Gifting wellbeing box delivery
A photo of three women sitting in armchairs in a communal living area with a large cardboard box open on the coffee table between them. One woman is holding some printed booklets from the box and talking to the woman receiving the box while the third woman looks on and smiles.
Radical Gifting Box Drop Off, to Co-Creator and Participant, Stephanie, with Artist, Louise, Creative Producer, Mandy
Photo showing a pair of hands outstretched on a table with their palms facing up. There is a smooth white stone in each hand and each pebble has a different photo of the night sky printed on it.
Radical Gifting Box Drop Off, with Co-Creator and Participant, Stephanie

“The session had such a positive effect on Steff she was being very interactive with staff showing them her photographs of when she was in India. 

I will print them off for Stephanie. This experience has really made a difference to Stephanie, she seems to be much more sociable, spends less time in her room, has made a new friend who she spends time with, and has been more chatty generally. This seems to have made such a positive impact on her.  

This project really brought Stephanie out of her shell, by taking part she visited a place in herself she had not thought about for a long time.” – Elaine, Barton Court Centre Manager 

Photo looking across a table of objects including dried seaweed and starfist, various sheets of reflective and patterned card, pieces of plastic bottles and foil, and a pair of cardboard glasses with plastic lenses. To the side of the table someone is holding a second pair of cardboard glasses but only their hands are visible.
Radical Gifting co-creation session between artist and participant