Learning about homelessness in Northampton

Second year Geography students have been learning about homelessness as part of their Issues in Human Geography module.

Second year Geography students, Market Square, Northampton

Prof John Horton took the students on a walking tour of Northampton town centre to help the students reflect on spaces of homelessness.

Learning about spaces of homelessness

The students have also been learning about the topic through exploring academic research and hearing the stories of volunteers working with homeless people.

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

Geography students donate to local good causes

Second year Human Geographers have been learning about the experiences of socially-excluded groups in local communities. A range of guest speakers have explained how everyday objects that we often take for granted can make a huge difference to people experiencing food poverty, isolation, or homelessness. Students have responded brilliantly and made generous donations. For example…

Current third year student Olli Boyde, who volunteers at a local foodbank, described how foodbanks urgently need donations of tinned meats/fish and toiletries. Result: students donated 2 car-boots-full of tins and toiletries which we have shared between local foodbanks.

Olli Boyde and Dr John Horton

 

Jo Gunnett, Volunteer Coordinator for AgeUK Northants, described how many isolated elderly people experience fuel poverty, and can benefit from music and audio recordings. Result: students donated 15+ pairs of gloves and 7 pairs of headphones, which AgeUK volunteers will distribute to isolated elderly people this winter.

Dr John Horton models some of the donations!

Visitors from Northampton Hope Centre outlined the health and wellbeing problems that local homeless people experience because of wet clothing during winter months. Result: students donated 20+ pairs of socks for the Centre’s clothing bank.

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.

Second year Geography students learn about experiences of homelessness

‘Geographies of homelessness’ is a key topic within the second year module GEO2028 Issues in Human Geography. We had already spent some time reading, researching and debating about homelessness… But actually meeting people with first-hand experiences was a very different, eye-opening experience.

On Monday 10^th November, second year Human Geographers met two guest speakers with first-hand experiences of working with homeless people:

• Sarah Passam – Day Centre manager at the Hope Centre: a leading source of support for homeless people in Northamptonshire;
• Brian Hinton – a final year Geographer who is currently conducting dissertation research with homeless young people in Worcestershire.

Across a really interesting Q&A session we heard about:

• some of the significant everyday challenges and risks encountered by local homeless people (including some upsetting facts about mortality rates and violence against homeless people);
• impacts of drug and alcohol misuse, including some emerging issues associated with ‘illegal highs’;
• experiences of young homeless people;
• limitations of official statistics about homelessness (according to Local Authority data there are ‘15’ homeless people in Northampton… but the Hope Centre is used by 140+ people each day, and has 10,000 people on its books!)

Sarah Passam receives donations from some of the students

Human Geography students and staff brought in donations of food and clothing to be used by Hope Centre users. In an excellent display of generosity, more than 100 items were donated to the Centre. A number of students have also expressed interest in volunteering at the Centre in future.

Geography staff and students donated food and clothing to the Hope Centre