Foundation Learning Students’ Art Challenges Homelessness Stigma

Students on SERC’s Foundation Learning course have partnered with Leonard Cheshire and have used their artistic prowess to show the reality of homelessness in an attempt to debunk the negative stereotypes commonly misattributed to the homeless.

Michelle Graham lecturer in Foundation Learning spoke about the project. “Through a partnership with Leonard Cheshire the students got involved with a graffiti art project. The graffiti was designed to challenge the perception of homeless people and contrast this with the reality, showing some of the reasons people end up living on the streets.

“The project involved sessions with Cormac McArt from the Westcourt centre in Belfast, learning about homelessness and the stats relating to it in Northern Ireland. We then talked about stereotypes and attitudes to homelessness and how we can challenge these, the students researched quotes and artwork on the topic and then came up with a design.”

Talking about the partnership with Leonard Cheshire Michelle said “Taking part in the project with Leonard Cheshire has been an amazing experience, educating the students on some of the issues surrounding homelessness and promoting a better understanding of the causes. We also did a collection and are very grateful to the many people from Bangor SERC and Millisle Youth Forum, who donated food and toiletries to be distributed to the homeless community.”

Michelle concluded by saying “Leonard Cheshire have been involved with quite a few projects in the college this year and have provided the students with practical learning opportunities and skills development that have been invaluable to their experience at SERC, during a difficult and unpredictable year. Michael McCallister, the Can Do project coordinator, has been so supportive and we look forward to getting the opportunity to work with them in the future.”

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