Rest, Reflection and Resistance: PLUSHSE16 in Margate with People Dem Collective and Stour Trust

There is something powerful about being invited into a space where you are not expected to perform, advocate, campaign, organise, lead or solve problems.

A space where our only responsibility was to decide whether to drive or take the train then arrive.

Recently, Michael and I were invited to Margate by the wonderful Victoria Barrow-Williams from People Dem Collective and Juliet Can from Stour Trust. What followed was a day of connection, reflection and restoration that reminded us why care must sit at the centre of this justice work.

It was a beautiful Friday. The sun was shining, the sea was calm, and from the moment we arrived, there was a sense that this day had been intentionally designed to help people slow down.

Making Space to Breathe

The morning began with sound bathing and guided reflection.

For those of us working within community, cultural and social justice spaces, moments of stillness can feel unfamiliar. Much of our work is rooted in responding to challenges, advocating for others and carrying the emotional weight of collective struggles.

The session offered something different.

An opportunity to regulate.

To be present.

To reconnect with ourselves before reconnecting with others.

As the sounds settled around us, there was a collective exhale in the room. For a brief moment, nobody needed to be anything other than human. For us and our PLUSHSE16 journey so far, this moment of being horizontal was called for but equally difficult.

The Gift of Shared Experience

As the day unfolded, conversations emerged naturally in the sunshine.

We met people from different backgrounds, organisations and movements, each carrying their own stories, challenges and aspirations. Yet there was a shared understanding among us.

The understanding that work rooted in justice, equity and culture can be deeply rewarding, but also emotionally demanding.

This is why spaces like those created by People Dem Collective matter so much.

They recognise that those who spend their lives holding space for others also need spaces where they can be held.

Not every gathering needs to produce an action plan.

Not every meeting needs an outcome framework.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is create conditions where people can simply connect, reflect and recharge.

Learning Through Storytelling

One of the highlights of the day was watching a film curated by People Dem Collective that documented the evolution of their work.

It was inspiring to witness the journey they have been on, the communities they have engaged, and the lessons they have gathered along the way.

The film was a reminder that meaningful change is often built slowly, through relationships, trust and consistency rather than grand gestures.

It also reinforced something we hold close at PLUSH™:

That lived experience is expertise.

The most powerful insights often come from people who have lived through the systems, challenges and realities that organisations seek to address.

Food, Community and Honest Conversation

Later, we gathered around homemade food for a sharing circle.

There is something special about conversations that happen around a table.

The act of eating together creates a different kind of openness.

Stories were shared.

Reflections were offered.

Experiences were exchanged.

There was laughter, honesty and vulnerability.

No hierarchy.

No performance.

Just people.

In a world increasingly driven by speed and productivity, these moments of genuine human connection feel increasingly radical and with us without a space or place we remember the PLUSH connections and are reignited to keep fighting for it, for our community.

Creativity at the Water's Edge

The day concluded with an artwork session on Margate beach.

Feet in the sand.

Water at the shoreline.

Pens, paper and creativity flowing freely.

The setting could not have been more fitting.

As waves rolled in and out, we were invited to reflect through making, expressing thoughts and feelings that are often difficult to articulate through conversation alone.

It felt grounding.

Liberating.

And deeply necessary.

Why This Matters

At PLUSH™, we often speak about social value, culture and community infrastructure.

But infrastructure is not only physical.

It is also relational.

It is the networks, friendships, support systems and spaces of care that allow people to continue showing up for their communities.

The work being undertaken by People Dem Collective is an example of this kind of infrastructure in action.

Creating environments where people working across justice, culture and community can pause, replenish and reconnect is not a luxury.

It is essential.

Because sustainable movements require sustainable people - let, that sink in!

Thank You

To everyone at People Dem Collective and Stour Trust, thank you.

Thank you for creating a space that prioritised care, connection and wellbeing.

Thank you for the generosity, hospitality and thoughtfulness that shaped the day, including the tasty cultural food.

And thank you for reminding us that rest is not separate from the work.

It is part of the work.

As we left Margate feeling lighter, clearer and recharged, even if it was just for one day, we carried with us a renewed appreciation for the importance of community—not only in moments of protests, or struggle, but also in moments of joy, reflection and collective care.

The future we are all fighting for must include space to breathe.

Victoria and Juliet - Thank you and to our new friends in this fight thank you for sharing and listening, and we welcome you to our community.

We look forward to seeing you all soon.

Michael and Carmen

PLUSHSE16 x NOPRICEONCULTURE