'It’s a truly special place and deserves as much support as possible.'

By Juliet Lawson - Senior Associate at BCL Legal

Celebrating Volunteers Week with the Booth Centre. 

"At BCL Legal, we take our CSR seriously. We’re fortunate to work in an industry that while it’s hard work, it’s also profitable, and we want to give something back to the fantastic community in which we live.

Either as an organisation or at team level, we choose a registered charity each year to work alongside and support in a variety of ways, whether that’s by way of regular donations of much-needed items such as food, clothing or equipment; getting involved in organised fundraising events such as The Manchester Sleepout; organising our own fundraising activities or volunteering with the charity.

Over the course of the following year, we’re getting involved in the full range of activities with our chosen charity; not only as a helping hand but to get to know them, gaining an understanding of their mission and vision and what their biggest challenges are.

This year, we’ve chosen to support the Booth Centre in Manchester. There are a number of charities in the Manchester area that support adults with issues around homelessness, but we were drawn to the Booth Centre because of its specific approach, which sets it apart from some of the other support services in the city.

Their mission deviates from the ‘sticking plaster’ approach and aims to bring about positive change in the lives of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the city: empowering them to help themselves with the appropriate support.

Whilst on the face of it, they’re a service offering free breakfasts and lunches and a variety of interesting activities, behind the scenes it’s a hub of activity: working with their service users on an individual basis to make the personal changes needed in order to positively move forward.

They’re a truly dedicated team, and this week (Volunteers Week) the third group of BCL-ers including our CEO, were privileged to spend the morning at the centre: helping out with breakfast and lunch, getting involved with the activities and chatting with, and getting to know, the individuals who visit the centre and the dedicated staff and volunteers who run it.

It was an inspiring and humbling few hours for us. There’s so much important hard work going on, but on the surface, they’ve managed to create a relaxed, welcoming, non-threatening environment, where there are chat and laughter and genuine friendships are made and developed.

It’s a truly special place and deserves as much support as possible. It’s an incredibly important resource for adults in Manchester who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, yet as with so many charities, they constantly struggle to find the funding to keep delivering these vital services and support. If only they could spend the time chasing funding on delivering their services instead – they could make even more of a difference!

We’re looking forward to working with them over the coming year and doing what we can, but if you’re Manchester-based and want to support this incredible organisation, you can find out more details here.
​
Me, I’m off to stock up on tea bags, coffee, biscuits and baked beans to send across in our next donation box because believe me, they get through A LOT of these every day and every donation helps."

If your company is interested in working in partnership with the Booth Centre, please get in touch with Amy, our Development Manager, and have a chat about the opportunities available to best suit your business and your teams. 

Contact: amy@boothcentre.org.uk / 0161 835 2499

By Alix - Booth Centre Support Worker

The Booth Centre approach is not something you can easily outline on paper, it’s a way of working that has to be at the core of everything that you do. It’s a central ethos that everything else works from.

82% of people in the UK go online every day , so much of our daily life requires internet access that for many of us a few days without it would seriously affect our ability to work, communicate, and be entertained. This is the case for everyone. Looking for work, applying for jobs and trying to secure accommodation all require access to the internet but as is often the case those most in need are excluded. Digital exclusion can present significant and life altering consequences. For example looking for employment and private rented accommodation without internet access can force people to look in unconventional places which makes them vulnerable to illegal work and unsafe living conditions. Another big factor is Universal Credit, people need to write on their online journal regularly in order to keep receiving benefits. Without it they may be sanctioned which could lead to losing their accommodation. Being able to connect to family and friends, watch a film or listen to music has a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing. Connecting to the outside world helps us feel included and part of a community. And everyone deserves this.

Every month we have an IT Committee where we discuss IT in the centre and across the city. Working together we identified the key digital needs that weren’t being met and have sought to address them. Our amazing peer mentors recognise the difficulties people face and are pivotal in driving forward our digital programme. Over the past year we have been redesigning how we use technology in the centre, this is nearly completed and we can’t wait! We’re introducing tablets to increase the ways people can access the internet and we’ve put in additional computers so that more people can use our Internet Café, Job Club and online training.

The journey that our peer mentors and supported volunteers go on is incredible. Having the ability to help another person out of a difficult time or even just be given trust and responsibility is an effective tool for empowerment. In a recent interview peer mentor Robyn said that ‘co-production comes from the heart’ it’s about understanding and offering empathy not sympathy and that’s how we do things at the Booth Centre.

At the Booth Centre we recognise the importance of offering engaging, fun and meaningful activities for people to help them learn new skills, build their confidence, and make new friends as a crucial way to break the cycle of homelessness. A recent evaluation by a leading arts and mental health charity found that people engaging with the arts reported a 71% decrease in feelings of anxiety and a 73% fall in depression; 76% of participants said their well-being increased and 69% felt more socially included. These findings can be confirmed by spending time with our artists who take such pride in what they create and look forward to the opportunity to achieve.

Our arts programme offers regular, free workshops in areas such as painting, singing, music, drama, creative writing and sewing. We work in partnership with local and national specialists to offer people good quality, fun and challenging workshops and we’d like to introduce you to these amazing partners.

The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre
The Edge is an award winning theatre for participation with a focus on supporting vulnerable individuals to get involved in high-quality theatre and arts to transform lives. In collaboration with the fantastic team at The Edge, we work together to offer weekly drama and music workshops at the Booth Centre, culminating in two public productions each year. The shows produced create opportunities for the wider public, friends and family to see participants achieve, develop and use their skills and talents. The next production will be in the summer, it’s very early days in rehearsals but we have heard it will be based on the Peterloo Massacre! 

Stitched Up
Stitched Up is a fantastic local organisation encouraging individuality, pride and sustainability through fashion and style. Their mission is delivered through weekly sewing workshops in the Booth Centre that enable people to repair and upcycle garments as well as get involved in impressive exhibition projects. Our sewing and art groups will be working alongside Bryony from Stitched Up for a Peterloo Massacre inspired project funded by the Postcode Community Trust. The project will showcase what participants love about our great city, and things that mean the most to them in their lives. More details on this project will be announced very soon!

Streetwise Opera
For those who have braved our annual Manchester Sleepout or attended our Christmas Carol Service you will be familiar with our next longstanding partner organisation, Streetwise Opera. Streetwise Opera is a performing arts charity for people who are or have been homeless. The Booth Centre is a key delivery partner of Streetwise' creative programme here in Manchester, offering weekly creative workshops at the Centre for anyone to get involved in. Through working in a safe and supportive group and participating in opera, an art form that many perceive as elitist, people's beliefs about their capabilities are fundamentally challenged and changed. The group are currently rehearsing for a performance, as part of Opera Hour at the Royal Northern College of Music, on Tuesday 26th March, find out more and register for tickets here. 

​​arthur+martha
arthur+martha is an experimental arts organisation helping people find their creative voice, build confidence, self esteem and self worth, through art and writing. We have collaborated with arthur+martha over a number of years, producing numerous public exhibitions. Past projects include The Homeless Library, Sing Me To Sleep, Armour and Moving Panorama. Last week, at the Booth Centre we launched the first workshop of a new two year project together called A Book of Ours - people experiencing homelessness will work to create a medieval-style illuminated manuscript about their lives. We can't wait to get started!

From Monday 12th November, Manchester Piccadilly Train Station will host Inspirational People, a new photography and art exhibition jointly produced by local homelessness charity the Booth Centre and photographer Matt Priestley.
 
Inspirational People will be showcased on Piccadilly’s main concourse, featuring portraits of Booth Centre artists and displays of their artwork. The project aims to challenge misconceptions and habitual portrayals of homelessness; Matt captures each person’s individuality, communicating pride in their achievements and hope for the future.
 
The collaborative project marks the launch of the With One Voice International Arts and Homelessness Festival, a summit aimed at raising awareness of the important role the arts play in supporting those who have experienced homelessness.
 
Amanda Croome, CEO of the Booth Centre, said: “Whilst Manchester’s homeless situation is urgent and deserves close attention, traditional depictions of the crisis typically perpetuate damaging stereotypes. Inspirational People is a chance for the public to see powerful, authentic representations of those who have experienced such a prevalent issue in the city.
 
“There is support and hope for people living through homelessness, and the Booth Centre exists to help people get back on track. Inspirational People captures the optimism we see in our visitors every day, who are determined to move forward and build a better life.”
 
The Booth Centre provides a variety of services for people who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness. The charity aims to bring about positive change by providing advice on finding accommodation, education and training as well as helping to secure long-term employment. The centre also offers free meals and support in tackling health and addiction issues, alongside creative activities to boost confidence and self-esteem. 
 
Inspirational People is sponsored by Savills, Neil Morland, Keolis Amey, Ward Hadaway and One Manchester, a provider of housing and community services. Anton Schultz, Social Investment Manager at One Manchester, commented: “We are incredibly proud to support Inspirational People, a captivating exhibition which truthfully represents the skills, talents and hopes of people who have experienced homelessness and the essential services the Booth Centre provides in Manchester.”
 
The exhibition begins at 3:00pm on Monday 12th November until Sunday 18th November, when it will move to other venues around the city. To find out more about the exhibition and its accompanying book, visit http://inspirationalpeople.co.uk.
 

We're delighted to share with you our latest Annual Report.

​Thank you to our partners at MC2 for the design.

Download your copy below...

​For the eighth year running, the Booth Centre, is inviting hundreds of people to take on the challenge of sleeping outside to raise awareness and vital funds to help end homelessness.
 
On Friday 9th November, the Manchester Cathedral will host The Manchester Sleepout 2018, tasking participants to take on the challenge of sleeping outdoors for the night, to increase understanding of some of the hardships that homeless people experience on a daily basis, whilst highlighting the life-changing work that the Booth Centre carries out throughout the city.
 
The Booth Centre offers an extensive range of vital support services for people experiencing homelessness, including help to move off the streets into accommodation, hot meals and showers, education and training workshops, employment and accommodation advice, as well as arts and sports sessions. The centre helps people to rebuild their lives and integrate themselves back into the community.
 
Amanda Croome, CEO of The Booth Centre, said: “Homelessness is still on the rise in Greater Manchester, and we all need to come together to tackle the root causes. At the Booth Centre, our vision is for everyone to have a secure home and the opportunity to have a good quality of life and to achieve this we rely on generous support from people who live and work in our community.
 
“The Manchester Sleepout offers just a glimpse of what it is like to sleep rough, and by no means exposes the true dangers and hardships that some people have to face night after night. But this event goes a really long way in galvanizing the local community to raise both awareness and vital funds to enable us to continue to support hundreds of people experiencing homelessness.”
 
The 2018 Manchester Sleepout is kindly sponsored by Construction Impact Framework (CIF), The University of Salford and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. Sara Lawton, MD of Construction Impact Framework, added: “The Booth Centre works tirelessly to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the North West. The charity offers a fantastic and varied range of services to give people the confidence and skills they need to get back on track and we’re proud to be supporting the charity in delivering its life-changing work.
 
“It’s encouraging to see the region pull together to raise money for this charity during The Manchester Sleepout and I, along with our partners Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Salford, look forward to taking part in this year’s event which is expected to be bigger than ever before.”
 
2017’s Manchester Sleepout saw over 400 people, including many teams from Manchester’s business community, come together to raise £120,000. Click here to register for this year’s event and support the Booth Centre with its life-changing work.
 

Article by Graham Wood, Street Support Network

​The People’s History Museum, with stories of the struggles of ordinary people, provided lots of ideas that have been expanded and explored to create Moving Panorama. The piece performed on Monday 11th June, combined visual arts with original songwriting centred around scrolling artworks that moved together with the songs to tell a story. The artworks, songs and poems reflected on the past but also gave voice to experiences in the present.

Lois Blackburn (arthur+martha) and singer songwriter Matt Hill (Quiet Loner) worked alongside people from the Booth Centre with the songs and artworks highlighting 21st century issues such as debt, living in poverty and lack of representation whilst also drawing parallels with similar struggles from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Moving Panorama explores the rich history of the streets of Manchester and people’s own personal stories and histories.

Here is another song from the performance:

Spinning Plates
by Lawrence McGill

I have 42 cliches in my life
And not one of them do I like
I walk and I walk and then I hike
Getting back on the horse is like riding a bike
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates

Only death can stop me or Stupidity awaits
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates
If money is the root of all evil
I never have any so I should be a saint

Tomorrow is another day, I intend to be there come what may
I have 42 cliches in my life
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates

Can’t let them fall down to blow up in my face
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Do have your finger in every pie
Keep the wolf from the door, we all know the score
You are the apple of my eye
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates
​
Can’t let them fall down to blow up in my face
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates.

​George’s Dining Room & Bar in Worsley have welcomed a team of volunteers and visitors from the Booth Centre, a day centre supporting homeless people in Manchester.
 
George’s and the Booth Centre have a strong connection thanks to the work of Foodinate, a restaurant initiative who provide meals for those in need and help with the fight against food poverty. George’s have three dishes on the menu – a starter of Spring Pea Soup, the main course Chalk Stream Trout and Duck Egg Crème Brulee dessert. When a diner orders one of these dishes, a meal is donated to the Booth Centre.
 
On Wednesday, George’s invited four people from the Booth Centre to experience life in the kitchen at George’s whilst supporting the Booth Centre’s catering training programme, helping people develop skills and confidence to gain work in the catering industry.
 
Urbanus Kinuthir and Megos Haile, who are both kitchen assistant volunteers at the Booth Centre, joined Head Chef Joe Mcleod in the George’s kitchen to prepare the Foodinate meals for their fellow Booth Centre visitors. Barry Lundy, Kitchen Supervisor at the Booth Centre was served alongside kitchen assistant volunteer Simon Ewiwilem.
 
Urbanus and Megus learnt how to fillet and debone a whole trout, produce a citrus mayonnaise and make the pea soup from scratch. Vital skills that can be taken back to the kitchen of the Booth Centre and presented to their visitors, ensuring they are offered a nutritious and varied menu.
 
Booth Centre kitchen supervisor Barry was pleased to have a day off! He said: “It was great to be able to visit George’s, see how their kitchen works and the efforts behind preparing their Foodinate dishes. Urbanus and Megus did a fantastic job and I was more than happy to sample their creations!”
 
Meanwhile, Head Chef Joe felt grateful to be able to help the Booth Centre and highlight the work of Foodinate. He said: “It’s so important for us at George’s to give back to the community and demonstrate the hard work of the volunteers at the Booth Centre. Having the guys in the kitchen making the Foodinate meals is an ideal way to pass on our skills and experience and I hope they will be able to use what they learnt for many years to come.”
 
George’s is co-owned by footballing legend Ryan Giggs. Speaking about the visit, he said: “I’m so pleased to be able to offer the Booth Centre our support, through Foodinate and our loyal customers we have donated thousands of meals to those in need. The guys did a great job in the kitchen today and we know where to look when we’re next recruiting!”

“You see the trouble but you don’t understand my struggle.”
 
A new collaboration between people who have experienced homelessness and local artists will be shown at the People's History Museum on Monday 11 June 2018 as part of Manchester Histories Festival.
 
'Moving Panoramas' will combine visual arts with original songwriting to create a performance piece centred around scrolling artworks that reflect on our past but also give voice to experiences in the present. 
 
Arts organisation arthur+martha’s lead artist Lois Blackburn and singer songwriter Matt Hill (Quiet Loner) have worked with people from the Booth Centre, a day centre in Manchester for those who have experienced homelessness. Taking inspiration from the People's History Museum they have created songs and artworks that explore the rich history of Manchester's streets as well as their own personal histories and stories.
 
As the project began it became clear that museums are places some homeless people like to go to. One of the project participants said “I've visited more museums since I've been homeless than I ever did before”. The People's History Museum with its story of the struggles of ordinary working people provided lots of ideas that have been expanded and explored to create the new work.
 
The songs and artworks created speak of 21st century issues such as debt, living in poverty and lack of representation. They also draw parallels with similar struggles from the 19th and 20th centuries.  The idea of struggle was one of the main themes to emerge. Gary from Salford who was recently homeless said of the Booth Centre “Everyone who comes here finds something a struggle, from the past, present or the future.” Gary later reflected on that in lyrics for a song he wrote called 'I've seen you there' - “I’ve seen you there but you have no time to spare. You see the trouble but you don’t understand my struggle.”
 
The performance, taking place from 12.00pm to 1.00pm on Monday 11 June 2018, will be filmed and will feature some of the project participants from the Booth Centre performing alongside the scrolling artworks. The performance has been created in response to the People’s History Museum’s collections, and on issues within their exhibition Represent! Voices 100 Years On which runs from Saturday 2 June 2018 to Sunday 3 February 2019. The project has been supported by a grant from Arts Council England.