Help Nat get her visa to stay in the UK

My name is Natasha Joseph, but Nat to most people who know me. I run We Belong Here CIC (www.webelonghere.co.uk) and Insert Studios in Leeds. I was born in Bangalore, India and grew up there for 19 years before I moved to Leeds in 2016. I came to study Fine Art at what was then Leeds College of Art, where I met artists from all over England and grew to understand the in’s and out’s of British culture (the pub, the wonders of mash and soapy washing up amongst a few). It was a big move at 19 and I had no family here in Leeds but I spent the next 6 years finding them.

I spent the 3 years of university using my course as a safety net where I could express myself with no repercussions and the rest of my time getting to know the creative scene of Leeds. I began working for creative professionals by night and going to uni by day, it’s safe to say there wasn’t a lot of sleeping happening but I adored it. I wanted to work with community groups, I have always been drawn to social impact and believe that the arts are for the people. In my second year, I secured funding to teach traditional Indian folk art workshops to elderly groups in Bramley. I taught a Men’s Group how to create Warli paintings, a Stroke Club how to tie bandhani and a Dementia Group called ‘Remembering Thursdays’ (Apparently they kept forgetting to turn up on Wednesday, the original day of their group sessions and kept turning up on Thursdays instead, hence their name) how to draw rangoli in the community centres garden. It was my first foray into the community space and I was very curious about how I could share my culture through art with the local community.

I set up We Belong Here in 2019 in my third year. I was determined to stay in the UK as I felt that I had more to offer and so I decided to start a business with no knowledge of what that entailed. My third year was spent making, filming, stitching, casting and learning the ins and out’s of business management, cash flow and how to set up a CIC. I started an event called ‘We Belong Here’ in Feb 2019 that was a roaring success. What started as a cross-arts exhibition and open mic event has since become an ever-growing social enterprise. We have worked across the mediums of music, art and dance. We have worked with and commissioned over 50 artists across the UK and the globe. We have worked with people of all ages making work that matters to our community (in the middle of a pandemic).

I have dreams of creating more accessible spaces for artists and performers, of bringing the BIPOC LGBTQ+ creatives into the forefront, working with kids to paint all their dreams, making schools a place of colour and creativity, and working with the elderly to remember and share their histories. I have dreams of doing so much for my community but before I can I need help to make sure I can stay in this country and afford to pay for my visa. It is not just a workplace, a company and a family that I have managed to create so far but a community of vibrant, talented minds who I would very much like to continue on this journey with. It would mean a lot if you could donate or share this gofundme.

Below is a more thorough breakdown of how these funds will be used for my Tier-1 Innovator Visa Fees.

Lawyer Due Diligence - £600

Biometrics - £21

Health Surcharge Fee - £1872

Visa Application in the UK - £1292

TOTAL - £3785

We were also able to raise £900 at a fundraiser gig called 'Save Nat' at Assembly House on the 14th of November 2022 in Leeds, UK.