12 reports Joined 4 years ago

Oliver

12 reports

Joined 4 years ago

Oliver

I am a young artist and activist on the autistic spectrum who has studied at Westminster Kingsway College and Byam Shaw College among other institutions. Painting has been a way of expressing myself and helped distract me from my obsessions.

I am very aware of the social barriers caused by ageism which led me to begin an initiative called ‘Engages all Ages’. Myself and a group of friends hold regular meetings and events as part of this project.

I appeared on a Channel 4 TV show called the Undateables, which shows the dating agency ‘Stars in the Sky’ helping Disabled people to find love.

You can see some of my art work on display at Oliver’s Village Café NW3, our family café, where I also bake some of the cakes.

Combatting loneliness is important to me and you can read a Camden New Journal article about my ‘happy to talk’ bench campaign here.

Commission Oliver for a report

My journey to happy to talk benches

In this story, Oliver explains his passion for 'happy to talk benches' and speaks about the successful campaign work he has done to promote these loneliness-busting pieces of street furniture.

Reported 4 years ago

Chatty cafe schemes help fight loneliness

In this short report Oliver talks about his efforts to join with the Chatty Cafe scheme to help him feel less lonely. Oliver has ambitions to set the scheme up in Camden.

Reported 4 years ago

Keeping calm on public transport

For Oliver, sitting in silence while in a public place like a tube or train can fray his nerves. In this short piece, Oliver talks about the ways he calms himself down on public transport and his fears of how people may judge him for the methods he uses.

Reported 4 years ago

Quiet, polite protests don’t work, says Oliver

In this piece, Oliver says why he thinks gentle direct action methods are the only way to get people and the Government to take notice of the issues that really matter.

Reported 4 years ago

I’ve learned how to make my events even more powerful, says Oliver

In this piece, community reporter Oliver Chan explains how a Leadership programme has helped him to hone his skills as an events organiser.

Reported 4 years ago

Disabled people need homes not hospitals, says Oliver

In this short think-piece, Oliver sets out the changes he thinks need to happen so that Disabled people living in institutional homes can lead better and more independent lives.

Reported 4 years ago

My conversation starter posters will help beat loneliness, says Oliver

I want to tackle loneliness and ageism by encouraging people to talk to each other in public spaces. I think this will improve people’s physical and mental health. Since the winter started, I have been feeling very lonely myself and so I’ve come up with the idea of using themed conversation starter posters to make it easier for people to chat to me and others at my ‘happy-to-talk’ benches.

Reported 4 years ago

Bridging the generational divides – Oliver’s work gathers pace

My last Engages All Ages event was the best attended so far. It took place on Sunday 3rd October in Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill and some of the participants played music, sang songs and read poetry about the generational divides.

Reported 4 years ago

Small talk can make a big difference

My ‘mood board’ idea is about generating stress-free conversations that help me quell anxiety attacks or combat loneliness.

Reported 4 years ago

Oliver battles ageism with poetry

I started doing Engages All Ages in Belsize Community Library in 2019. I came up with the idea when I got upset because I went to an art show where there were a lot of young people and I got rejected and I felt it was because of ageism. With Engages All Ages we hold outside poetry events and put on demonstrations to raise awareness about ageism.

Reported 4 years ago

We need new ideas to deal with congestion on Kentish Town Road, says Oliver

Dealing with congestion is a challenge which is why it is important to trial new ideas. A solution for the Kentish Town Road pavement widening is to remove the kerb entirely and create a shared space for pedestrians and cars.

Reported 4 years ago

‘Happy to Talk’ benches can beat loneliness, says new reporter Oliver

I found out about Happy to Chat benches from the BBC News. The idea behind them is to help tackle loneliness by encouraging strangers to talk to each other in a safe, neutral space, like a park. It’s as simple as ideas get really.

Reported 4 years ago