The Book of Knowledge: What I Wish I’d Known and What I’d Like to Pass On

Dr Katharine Low (Centre for Education, King’s College London), Katrina Rawson-Mackenzie and Amy Russell (The Bridge – Health, Fitness and Wellbeing), Maryam Shaharuddin (Researcher and Participatory Artist), with contributions from participants Alysa, Anne-Marie, Asha, Ayana, Beatrice, Blossom, Carol, Cashka, Cecilia, Claire, Cristina, Daisy, Francesca, Haleema, Isabella, Jane, Jeanette, Jemma, Jess, Julia, Lara, Lilian, Lorraine, Lucy, Maisie, Malika, Mariya, Nina, Noura, Ons, Rachel, Raine, Roxanne, Shana, Shrina, Sofia, Sue, Therese, Wendy and Zoe

The Book of Knowledge project, led by Dr Katharine Low, brought together an intergenerational group of women at The Bridge to explore what women’s health means beyond clinical narratives, and how knowledge is carried, shared, and passed on. Working in partnership with King’s College London, the project created a supportive space for women to speak about health and wellbeing in ways shaped by culture, faith, ageing, family, and lived experience.

Over twelve months, participants met monthly in Southwark for “make and talk” workshops that paired creative activity with open conversation. Sessions used a wide range of accessible artforms, including printmaking, collage, poetry, clay work, badge-making, bread-making, bulb planting, and scarf painting, offering gentle ways into topics that can feel difficult to name in medical settings.

The project culminated in a public exhibition at The Bridge in December 2024, alongside the launch of The Book of Knowledge, a collective publication co-authored and designed with participants. Together, the book and exhibition demonstrate how creative, co-produced methods can support women to articulate embodied knowledge, build confidence in their voice, and develop a shared language for care, solidarity, and justice. Further information is available via The Bridge’s webpage for The Book of Knowledge.

For full details of the project, please see the PDF case study below.

The Book of Knowledge: What I Wish I’d Known and What I’d Like to Pass On – PDF Case Study