Last week we met with Ben Atha, a Young People’s Worker at Trafford Council, who works closely with Talkshop in Sale, Manchester, to clarify exactly what he wants to achieve from the project and where improvements are needed. After preparing key questions ahead of the meeting, we were able to align on his goals, identify areas to strengthen, and agree on clear next steps. It was a productive conversation that laid a strong foundation for delivering a meaningful proposal for the young people using the service.

Hi I’m Grace Martin, a current MArch 1 student in AND Atelier. I graduated from Northumbria University in 2024 and spent a year working in practice in Bath, where I was primarily involved in a large scale campus project.

I’m keen to broaden my project experience by working more closely with local communities and designing spaces that are inclusive and accessible to a diverse range of people. Being involved with The Talk Shop provides a meaningful opportunity to design an inclusive space that supports a wide range of people within the community, placing emphasis on engagement and shared activity.

I’m really looking forward to working collaboratively with other MSA students, gaining insight from their perspectives while contributing the experience and knowledge I developed during my undergraduate studies and year in practice. I am excited to begin working on a live project within a team environment, tailoring our proposal carefully to meet a client’s needs.