Catch The Light

Research Summary: Catch The Light

Category: Community Arts & Wellbeing Initiative

Duration & Scope: Annual lantern procession project at Southwick Primary School, Sunderland, established 2003

Primary Objective: Restore communal and individual self-esteem through symbolic imagery of light and hope in a demographically disrupted community

Core Mechanism: Participatory lantern procession culminating in illuminated tableau of stars and houses, addressing intergenerational displacement and family fragmentation from housing demolition

Evidence Base: Preliminary—community-identified need with staff recognition of low self-esteem; outcomes data not disclosed

Key Symbolic Elements: Stars and houses as recurring imagery representing hope, continuity, and domestic anchor within fragmented community structure

Implementation Context: Responds to substantial local housing stock demolition that displaced hundreds and disrupted multigenerational social networks

Catch The Light is an annual lantern procession project (since 2003) at Southwick primary school in Sunderland. In recent years, a large proportion of the local housing stock has been demolished, displacing hundreds of people and splitting up extended families that had for generations lived near to each other. The head teacher and staff of Southwick Primary recognised that self-esteem in their community – both individual and communal – was very low. There was a perceived need to re-energise the community. They believed a lanterns event would symbolise the bringing of light and hope to their area. Recurring imagery in this event is that of stars and houses, and this forms a finale tableau that is illuminated in the schoolyard at the conclusion of the procession.