Nousha says:

When I moved to the UK from Iran in the early 1990’s, I felt very isolated and alone. At first, I struggled to find work and to find my place in this country. I wanted to bring other refugee women together so we could learn skills like sewing and cooking that might help us find work. So, I set up the Lady's Creative Centre. About 30 women would come to my house every week and we would enjoy being together. I would cook upstairs, and we would eat and drink tea and share our skills. We made dolls from scrap fabric or even stones that we found on the ground. We painted and stitched all of their clothes and accessories to show others and teach them about our heritage. Then, we decided to make dollhouses together. It was a way to make a home together when we didn’t have one. We became like a family. It really helped us to be creative and not lazy – to just keep moving and making. It helped many women find work but, more importantly, it helped so many of us feel at home.