18 June 2025
"When I came to Cardiff, I was fleeing abuse from my ex-husband. I was living in a refuge with my children and seeking sanctuary. I was going through a lot… One day I came to the playgroup at the Trinity Centre and just stayed. On a Friday, I came to the Aurora Collective and I met Helen, a lovely woman with a great smile. Everyone was very welcoming and did not ask me any questions. It was just about being creative and doing something for ourselves. I felt welcomed. I kept attending and built my confidence in art and life.”
A member of the Aurora Trinity Collective
The collective operates on a simple but powerful principle: creating a safe space where women can be themselves without judgment. Most members are women who have sought sanctuary or come from global majority backgrounds, representing all nations, races and faiths.
"We're not just making things. We're helping women to build confidence. We're helping women to see value in themselves. We're helping women to value their skills," explains Ogechi, co-coordinator of Aurora and a member who joined the group in 2017.
The group meets weekly at Trinity Centre, where up to 40 women gather to share skills, learn new art techniques and build community. The space features carefully designed play provision, allowing mothers to focus on their creativity while their children are safely cared for by trained volunteers.
For many members, Aurora represents more than creative expression: it's a pathway to empowerment. Ogechi shares the transformation of one member who, after years with the group, finally found the courage to advocate for her bullied son at school: "A few years back, she wouldn't have been able to do that. She wouldn't have been able to speak up, advocate for herself or her child."
The collective's impact extends beyond individual transformation. Members have created beautiful artworks displayed throughout the Trinity Centre, including a unique stole featuring patterns from different cultural backgrounds, each pattern chosen to represent home, safety, or treasured memories.
"We validate women. We let them know they're valued. Many women come from cultures where their skills are not valued. Some just say, 'Oh, I'm just a mum.' I respond, 'No, you're not just a mum. You're creating your shape in the next generation.'"
Ogechi, co-coordinator and member of Aurora Collective.
The group operates democratically through a steering committee of eight women, ensuring decisions reflect the collective voice rather than top-down leadership. Membership is carefully managed, women must attend consistently for about eight weeks before being offered formal membership, which includes access to a WhatsApp group with strict privacy protections.
"We don't take photos of people's faces. We don't share photos on social media and that is respecting people's privacy," Ogechi explains, understanding that many members need their locations concealed for safety.
Aurora's work is supported by various funders, including the Arts Council of Wales and the National Lottery. They apply for funding annually, though securing funding remains an ongoing challenge. Despite these hurdles, the collective continues to grow, transforming not just individual lives but creating a model for how creative communities can heal, empower and build bridges across cultures.
For women like Ogechi, who has since become a mental health nurse while maintaining her role as co-coordinator, Aurora represents proof that "there's value in what they do" – a message that resonates far beyond the art room.