Reconnecting - A Graphic Novel About Inclusion

“REconnecting has its origins in a holistic humanities project which aimed to show that creative writing has benefits for wellbeing and reengagement with the education system. Over the span of six months, twelve young people worked together to produce a graphic novel exploring experiences of exclusion and inclusion, resulting in the creation of a book entitled Reconnecting: A Graphic novel about inclusion.

I was invited to work on this project with Dr Iona Murphy through December 2025 to Feburary 2026 as one of the illustrators on the comic. I worked one on one with four different young people to help them realise their stories into illustrated formats, taking into account their own personal visions surrounding style, presentation and content.

Working on this project was such a great oppurtunity! I really enjoyed meeting one on one with the young people and helping them create their comics. The whole experience, from travelling down to Sheffield for the sessions with the students, to meeting some of the funders/people in charge of the Recconnected charity to the book launch event itself, everything I experienced in the duration of this project was so valuable, and fun!

This project was my first foray into this kind of work, so even little things, like talking to the young people and hearing their reactions to/thoughts on the illustrations for their comic, really meant a lot to me! I found myself really caring about trying to make something they’d enjoy; and, it seemed to be very succsessful!

Thinking of my own highschool experience, as someone with Autism who never really fit the typical mould, this project really resonated with me, particularly revloving around the students’ stories in section one: “Mental Health and Pressures in school”, and I could really see alot of my own past experiences mirrored. I liked working on a project that had this level of meaning to it, and conversations with the people from within the charity as well as reading through Dr Iona Murphy’s written research, resulted in this project being a fufilling and usefull experience.