Pants and custard!

Second year Geographers were visited by Tanya Haji-Miller, Community Fundraiser for Northampton Hope Centre – Northampton’s largest space of support for people living in situations of homelessness and housing crisis. 

Tanya gave a fantastic and moving guest lecture about the issues faced by homeless people. One particularly important insight related to the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of homeless people, and the many forms that homelessness can take. Tanya also talked frankly about the challenges of  sustaining services in an increasingly tough economic climate.

Tanya talked about volunteering and careers opportunities in the charitable sector too.

Tanya left us with a collection challenge: to collect as many tins of custard and tuna and pairs of men’s pants as possible! Tanya spoke really movingly about the positive difference something as simple as a hot pudding or fresh underwear can make to a homeless person’s life. 

Donations for Northampton Hope Centre

Classes on poverty inspire students to donate to local good causes

Second year Human Geography students have been learning about issues relating to poverty, deprivation and social exclusion in the UK. Alongside lectures on geographies of homelessness, food poverty, and mobility deprivation, students have had the chance to meet a range of guest speakers from local front-line organisations, charities and services. Guest speakers have included:

• staff and volunteers from Age UK Northamptonshire;
• the manager of Spencer Bridge Food Bank in Northampton;
• a Community Fundraiser from Northampton Hope Centre (Northamptonshire’s largest charity for homeless and vulnerably housed people).

Lots of craft materials, puzzles, games and warm clothing  for Age UK day centres in Northamptonshire

Students have also been active in collecting donations for these organisations. In a fantastic effort this term, students have so far collected:

• 70 items of toiletries and 20 cartons of UHT milk (all items urgently needed by local food banks)
• 12 scarves, and several bags full of puzzles and craft materials for day centres for isolated elderly people;
• several car boots full of food and clothing donations for local food banks.
  

 

Lots of items donated for the foodbank!

Providing some of the most-needed items for Spencer Bridge Foodbank

I have a feeling there will be another car boot full of items next week!...

Prof John Horton

Poem written for Geography students

Earlier this term, second year Human geographers were visited by a group of staff, volunteers and clients from Northampton Hope Centre: the town’s largest centre for homeless and vulnerably housed people.

One of the guest speakers, Ambrose – a client, volunteer and resident poet at the Centre – has written a poem inspired by the visit and dedicated ‘for the student body of University of Northampton’…

For the Student Body of University of Northampton

We all share a common thread.

I was young once as you are now, and a university student with all that entails, if you get my drift. We are really not so different. Really!

Here comes the advice part, take it or leave it. Your decision to make, along with a myriad of others to follow. May all yours lead to the fulfilment of all you desire.

All I ask, having shared an experience together recently, is to – in whatever small regard – factor in humanity and be aware that life can sometimes throw you a massive curveball.

…Click here to find out more about the Hope Centre, and ways we can contribute to the work of this charity: http://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/get-involved

Learning about homelessness

On 9/11/15 visitors from Northampton Hope Centre met second year Human Geographers to talk about the Centre’s work with local people who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

Sarah (Day Centre Manager), Ambrose and Jane provided valuable, and often really moving, insights for students who can choose to do an assignment about homelessness as part of their second year studies. They also outlined some of the opportunities for students to engage with the organisation through volunteering, donations (socks urgently needed!), or participation in fundraising events such as the Big Sleep Out.

Former student Brian Hinton, Jane, Ambrose, Sarah (Day Centre Manager) and Dr John Horton

For more information about the Hope Centre, see: http://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/

Former student Brian Hinton also returned to the University to talk about his dissertation research about youth homelessness, conducted with the organisation St. Basil’s.