About the community

Together, a group of homeless people in Bradford seek to tackle the loneliness, despair, social isolation and vulnerability that can come with homelessness. They are addressing what has become a hidden homeless community and aim to combat stereotypes and stigma surrounding homelessness.



The Community Voices project

The project aimed to stage 24 workshops for at least 100 people and oversee the creation of digital images for billboards to be erected across the city, plus a film to be shown on their BBC Big Screen and online.  A publication of collected creative writings was also planned.

What the community did
In designing a public awareness campaign, the community worked together to devise the messages and visuals that would have the most impact about homelessness on billboards in Bradford.   They were mentored on photography by a local arts organization and took part in a series of photo shoots designed to get across their key messages about addiction and discrimination.  The community saw the project through from the first discussion groups to the launch of their  ‘What comes first the bottle or the bench?’ billboard and other large posters.  

See their billboard posters at Community Voices on Flickr

How it changed the community
The impact has been been profound for some of the members of the community:

• Members engaged fully with the project.  The acquisition of new skills and running the campaign motivated them and gave them momentum to move on with their lives, including getting employment.
• The feedback from the billboards was extremely positive.  As a result the community felt a sense of pride in their achievement and gained confidence to change their situation.
• Their teamwork on this project has strengthened them and empowered the steering group into planning new projects and widening their activities
• The project brought them together with Bradford College and further collaboration is planned.
• Next steps – A film documenting stories of homelessness is being made. A street paper for the homeless of Bradford is being planned, and a poetry book is being put together.

Who's involved?
Artworks Creative Communities is a registered charity and social enterprise which represents people who are homeless or who have experienced homelessness in the Bradford area. Find out more.