My name is Surabhi, and I am a Fine Arts student from the chaotic creative hub of India, Bombay/Mumbai. Until recently, Slough was just a tiny mark on a map to the west of London. I only discovered it when a family friend, Vineet, invited me to volunteer with Viva Slough. Now, I am sitting here wrapped in a very warm blanket—still not quite used to the British cold, in summer! – reflecting on a town that completely rewrote my expectations.
Admittedly, when I first googled Slough, I was suspicious. Human instinct makes you look for safety bugs. But the most beautiful part of being human is allowing yourself to jump in first because you trust. Every city has its dark and light; I simply knew Slough would have its own adventure, giving me a chance to explore a different side of who I am.
As an artist, I have explored many avenues, but never the immensity of preparing an entire town to become a beacon of culture. It requires giving people a safe space to trust, explore, and breathe.
I felt that myself during a 3.5km run through the stunning greenery of Burnham Beeches, trying to fight off the cold while admiring how gracefully England gives itself to nature. But I felt it even deeper through Viva Slough. The way this team operates doesn’t require massive wealth—it just requires love, hope, and community.
Slough is an industrial landscape where the soil itself has gone through much change over the years. How can it be nurtured back to health?
Well, Slough has chosen creative narratives that require a soft heart—like the upcoming project The Elephant Trail to raise money for the Thames Hospice, or the series of mural workshops for local residents, in transforming local spaces. While working on a mural for Wexham Parish Hall, the local leader greeted us with an open heart, wanting the space to feel welcoming again. Volunteers of all ages joined us, proving how beautifully Slough opens its doors to artists.
Opportunities are never lonely; they form a collective masterpiece. Slough has given me the chance to relearn and explore. I know now that when people come together, they create new life.
