Exciting exhibition launches in Manchester city centre

A large part of our work is supporting people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.

In the coming weeks, as we approach World Homeless Day in October, we’ll be shining a light on some of the ways we work alongside people to help them transform their lives.

We’re really excited that, this week, a brand new exhibition of poetry created by people at our Cornerstone and Morning Star services is launching.  It will be live at HOME in Manchester city centre until December.

Here, our head of homelessness, Amanda Croome, tells us more…

What’s the A Place at the Table project all about? 

It’s about providing people who come to Cornerstone and Morning Star with the opportunity to be creative and express themselves through creative writing and poetry. 

Why did you decide to do a project like this one? 

The idea for the project came from the people who attend Cornerstone who said that they wanted things to do.  They have so many interests, skills and talents that they don’t get to use and they wanted a way to share their experiences with other people. 

How does creative work like this help or support people experiencing homelessness? 

This sort of project builds people’s skills and confidence.  It has also helped to create a community of people who now look forward to meeting every week to work together to create something positive.   

It has given a voice to people who often feel that they are ignored, and that people don’t understand their experiences or their talents. 

A poetry session isn’t necessarily something people would associate with a service that helps people experiencing homelessness – was that intentional? 

The opportunity to be creative and to express yourself is a basic human need and it’s something that is often forgotten in homelessness services.  People focus on practical support.  But people need to have confidence and belief in themselves if they are going to make changes in their lives and projects like this really help to build people’s self-esteem, and from this everything is possible. 

Are there other ways you support people that people might find surprising or unexpected? 

We have a regular curling session at Cornerstone – where people play games of curling using stones on casters.  This is great fun and helps people to make friends and tackles isolation and loneliness.  It’s part of our health and wellbeing programme which includes table tennis, basketball, gardening and we have an outdoor gym where people can really work on their fitness. 

What have you enjoyed about the project? 

I enjoy reading the poems that are produced each week, but it’s going to be a real treat for everyone to see their work published in a booklet and on display at HOME in Manchester.  I know people will be very proud to see their work on display and to hear what visitors to the exhibition think of it.  It’s a recognition of them as artists rather than being categorised as someone who has experienced homelessness.  I’m also looking forward to seeing how these poems are received by the public and I’m hoping that they will be both moved and surprised by the quality of the work and the universal emotions that they express. 

What are you hoping the project will achieve? 

The project has already resulted in a positive change for the individuals involved – some of whom have already moved on to new housing and new jobs and are experiencing better mental health due, in part, to their involvement in the project.   

We are also hoping that it will be well received by the public who might enjoy the work, learn a bit more about the lives of people who have experienced homelessness or perhaps see people who are homeless in a different light – as people with skills, talent and creativity. 

Has anything surprised you about it? 

The whole community at Cornerstone has embraced the project – so many people have got involved and it’s created a strong bond between people.  People have already told me that the poetry sessions are the highlight of their week and that they’ve made new friends. 

Why do you think activities like this are important as part of the work we do alongside people at Cornerstone and other Caritas services? 

Everyone needs the opportunity to express themselves, to be creative, and to have their feelings and experiences validated and this project does all these things. 

How can people find out more or support our work? 

Come to the exhibition at HOME and the group would love to hear what you think about their poems.  You can support us to deliver more projects like this by making a financial donation or by donating art materials or applying to be a volunteer.