Muslim Charity and Aurora Wellbeing Centre have officially launched Stories of Hope, a new community exhibition celebrating compassion, creativity and partnership. Officially launched on Tuesday 4 August 2026, the exhibition will remain open until 1 September 2026, welcoming visitors to discover inspiring stories from Bassetlaw alongside artwork created by children in Uganda.

Hosted at the Aurora Wellbeing Centre in Worksop, the exhibition is the result of a partnership between the two charities, bringing together Muslim Charity's community work across Bassetlaw with Aurora's commitment to supporting wellbeing, creativity and community engagement. The collaboration began following a local networking event earlier this year, where both organisations recognised a shared vision of bringing people together through meaningful stories and positive community action.

Aurora Wellbeing Centre is dedicated to supporting people affected by cancer and long-term health conditions. Through wellbeing services, creative activities, heritage projects and community engagement, Aurora provides a welcoming space where people can connect, learn and find support. The Stories of Hope exhibition reflects these shared values, creating an opportunity for visitors to explore stories that inspire hope, resilience and compassion.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Muslim Charity's work across Bassetlaw before introducing a collection of original paintings created by children in Uganda. Through photography, personal stories and artwork, visitors can discover how local and international projects have transformed lives while celebrating the importance of community, kindness and opportunity.

The Bassetlaw displays highlight several community initiatives delivered by Muslim Charity over the years, including the Happy to Chat Benches project, which encourages conversation and helps tackle loneliness, as well as support for Bassetlaw Food Bank, the donation of life-saving defibrillators, the provision of a Resuscitaire Unit for Bassetlaw Hospital's maternity ward and the creation of the Millennium Green Gateway in Mattersey. Together, these projects demonstrate how partnerships with local organisations and volunteers have helped strengthen communities across the district. 

Visitors can also discover the inspiring story of Greg and Christine Herdman from Clarborough, Retford. Long-standing supporters of Muslim Charity, Greg and Christine have dedicated much of their retirement to international travel, volunteering and bringing communities together. Their exhibition tells the story of their participation in two of Muslim Charity’s hugely popular Annual Tuk-Tuk Challenge events where participants drive a brand new three-wheel auto rickshaw across 400 kilometres and at the end of their journey gift it to a deserving and needy family as a means of their income generation and to lift people out of poverty for good. The display also shares news of their upcoming visit to Uganda, where they will witness Muslim Charity's work first-hand and meet some of the children supported through the charity's programmes. 

Alongside these local stories, the exhibition features 'Voices of Hope: Children's Art from Uganda', a moving collection of paintings created by children supported through Muslim Charity's sponsorship programme. Each painting is displayed alongside the child's personal story, introducing visitors to their dreams, ambitions and determination to build a brighter future through education. Every piece of artwork offers a powerful reminder that creativity can flourish despite adversity.

One of the exhibition's centrepieces is 'A Royal Legacy in Wire', an extraordinary portrait of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Inspired by the official Platinum Jubilee portrait, the artwork has been meticulously created using a single continuous thread woven around precision pins to recreate every shade and detail. The portrait commemorates Muslim Charity's own Jubilee legacy through the donation of six commemorative benches across Bassetlaw and Newark, celebrating service, unity and community. The artwork was officially unveiled by the Chair of Bassetlaw District Council, Councillor Sybil Fielding, and the former Mayor of Retford, Wendy Quigley, and it proved to be one of the highlights of the afternoon.

The launch brought together representatives from Bassetlaw District Council, including Councillor Sybil Fielding, Councillor Darrell Pulk and Councillor Lynne Schuller, together with Wendy Quigley, former Mayor of Retford, representatives from the Rotary Club of Retford, the Retford Book Festival Committee and other invited guests. Visitors explored the exhibition, met representatives from both organisations and enjoyed a ceremonial cake cutting followed by refreshments to celebrate the official opening.