Defeating Narratives of Division

The design of Defeating Narratives of Division grows directly out of the community that shaped it. Every visual element in this booklet traces back to the creative work made in Aunty Social’s earlier workshops from the postcard series to the illustrations and handmade pieces contributed by local artists. Instead of treating the artwork as decoration, we’ve built the whole visual identity around it. The style leans into the tradition of art-as-activism: bold, direct, imperfect in the best way, and grounded in lived experience rather than theory.

The mix of contributions isn’t accidental. Blackpool’s creatives answered the call, adding their voices, styles, and stories to form a collective body of work that reflects the town’s real diversity and shared pride. It shows what happens when people make something together — creativity becomes a tool for unity, and the community sees itself represented instead of spoken for.

This sits alongside the purpose of the training itself.

Over the last 18 months, narratives of division have seeped into Blackpool, straining relationships and, at their worst, fuelling street-level conflict. More and more ordinary people have been pushed into resentment and blame. In response, Aunty Social partnered with the Ella Baker School of Organising to run a series of practical workshops informal, accessible sessions that help local people understand how these narratives work, how they spread, and how we can defuse them by organising, listening, and building real local power.

The booklet you’re holding is one of the resources from that programme. It’s a small manifesto shaped by experienced facilitators, grounded in Blackpool’s reality, and brought to life by the creativity of residents who care about their town. It exists to equip community leaders, artists, volunteers and neighbours with tools to challenge division, strengthen unity, and address the fears and frustrations that harmful narratives feed on.

Visually and socially, it’s a collective act: Blackpool using its own creativity to tell a different story one of strength, solidarity, and the belief that we can build something better together.