Centre users turn to art to tell homelessness stories

The users of a day centre run by Derventio Housing Trust have been using art to tell their stories of homelessness.

People who have been through tough times such as homelessness, alcohol and drug use, have been given the chance to tell their stories of loss, despair and hope through an innovative arts project.

They are all participants at Growing Lives, a day service in Ilkeston run by Derventio, which aims to build up confidence in people who have been referred to its services to help with their recovery.

This is done through a range of projects including woodworking, growing vegetables, taking part in walks and other activities.

The fledgling artists took part in a two-year Arts Council project aimed at breaking down the stereotypes and barriers to producing and enjoying art.
This project involved three main elements: creative writing, making a textile banner and making monoprints.

The work created has been shown to the public, including at the prestigious Wirksworth Festival, where the Growing Lives artists rubbed shoulders with many creators from the local area and further afield.

Among those who took part was Gareth Smallman, a qualified joiner and decorator who has been attending Growing Lives and provided work for the creative writing element of the project.

This involved writing poetry with a professional writer, which was then placed in a small box to express how he copes with worry.

Jackie Carpenter, assistant director of strategy at Derventio Housing Trust, said: “The aim of this project really was to give opportunities to people who don’t think of themselves as being involved with art at all, to create work themselves, to realise that everybody has the ability to bring out the artist in themselves.

“We are really proud of what people have done. It’s amazing what people can achieve, people who thought they could not achieve anything, people who society might think couldn’t achieve anything.

“These are people who have significant difficulties and challenges in life, so to have something in their life that is a big positive is something you often can’t put into words.”