Renegade Guides

The Renegade Guides handbook - a new resource, created with and for guides, is filled with practical advice, reflections, case studies, stories, ideas and a manifesto.

RENEGADE GUIDES: THE PLACES WE GO, THE STORIES WE SHARE

What is a renegade guide? What makes a tour? Who decides which stories get shared? Are there other ways we can preserve and share stories of people and places at risk of being lost forever?

“I’ve often asked myself, what is a tour guide, really? Your work helps answer that. It redefines guiding as a platform for social change and storytelling rooted in respect for place and people. This guide shows that a tour guide is multi-dimensional—and it’s a resource we need.” - Larry Henderson, Soul of Harlem

“Everyone interested in creative walking, walking art, place making/guarding/celebrating should check out (Saira’s new book).” - Clare Qualmann, Artist, Lecturer and Researcher

“I cannot recommend Saira Niazi’s new book Renegade Guides highly enough to anyone who leads tours. It’s both thought-provoking and inspirational.” - Nigel Smith, London Tour Guide

Towards the end of 2024, during a highly charged election season, writer, guide and founder of Living London, Saira Niazi, spent two months in the US (New York and San Francisco) developing a research project on tour guiding.

Attending various walking tours and community events, exploring hidden gems and local neighbourhoods and interviewing renegade guides, organisers and storytellers from all walks of life, Niazi sought answers to the pressing questions that prompted her journey. What makes a tour? Who decides which stories get shared? How can we better support our communities?

The Renegade Guides handbook – a new resource, created with and for guides, is filled with practical advice, reflections, case studies, stories, ideas and a manifesto.

Click here to buy a physical copy of the Renegade Guides handbook. If you would like a large font, accessible version of the handbook, please get in touch. Alternatively click the button below to download a FREE digital version!

Download handbook
 

Culturally Mindful

A diy guide to co-designing and delivering a creative health project

CULTURALLY MINDFUL RESIDENCY AND TRAINING

“Culturally Mindful is an ambitious new Creative Health residency and training programme taking place across Wandsworth throughout 2025–2026. Part of Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture programme, it brings together Global Majority artists, healthcare providers, and grassroots organisations to co-design new approaches to health and wellbeing support.”

“Born out of a recognised need to address stark racial and cultural inequalities in health access and outcomes, this project is a bold step toward more inclusive, representative, and community-rooted creative health practice.”

“Across London, arts, cultural, and VCSE organisations are delivering activities that have a huge impact on people’s health, supporting people who experience health inequalities, and improving the lives of many across the city every day.” – London Plus

I’ve put together a brief DIY guide to project design, delivery, and creative evaluation using the information, case studies, best practices, wisdom and resources shared at the Culturally Mindful training sessions. I’ve also included some of my own reflections and ideas. At the bottom of this guide, you will find a list detailing the incredible trainers/ facilitators/ founders, along with a range of useful resources.

Culturally Mindful was designed and curated by Jemilea Wisdom-Baako (community leader, artist, cultural educator and founder) and co-faciliated with Arji Manuelpillai. This working guide is inspired by the programme.

Click the button below to download the DIY guide. Please note that this is a working document, and I will update it as the programme progresses.

DIy guide for artists