Children across Greater Manchester took part in inspiration campaign, 'Show Me Home'
How do you talk to your children about homelessness? What do you say when they ask you about the person they saw with their sleeping bag on the street? What do you do if they tell you their friend is sleeping on someone else's sofa?
Homelessness takes many forms, and talking to our children about the experience of homelessness and rough sleeping can be a challenge. That's why we introduced 'Show Me Home'. A campaign to not only raise funds for the work of Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity, but to also start conversations with children and raise awareness of both the importance of home, and the experience of homelessness.
Earlier this year, we invited schools to participate in our brand-new campaign, using art as a means to connect and engage with children about the value of home.
Children were asked to create a piece of art under the theme of 'Show Me Home', with many expressing ideas of love, safety and family. For some, they also explored the absence of home and the experience of homelessness. The results were truly remarkable.
The six schools that took part; Flixton Girls in Urmston, Manor Academy, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, St Anne’s CE Primary in Sale, Brookburn Primary from Chorlton-cum-Hardy, and Christ The King RC Primary from Manchester, submitted some of their top entries to a panel of our judges.
The judges had a difficult task shortlisting the pieces to display, and curating an incredibly evocative exhibition that was hosted in Contemporary Six, culminating on World Homeless Day - 10th October 2023.
The judging panel included members of the Homelessness Prevention team in Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Together, Microsoft, artist Ghislaine Howard and gallery owner, Alex Reuben. The top three were awarded prizes, generously donated by Manchester Art Gallery and Cass Art. You can see the three winners, Jessica, Jesse and Catriona's work below.
The three winning artists and their families joined Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity and partners at a private viewing of their pieces in the wider exhibition.
We were delighted with the responses for our first campaign of Show Me Home, and are already working with Microsoft and Contemporary Six to create a bigger campaign for 2024.
If you're reading this and have children at a school in Greater Manchester, get in touch to find out how to sign up for the next event.
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