GAIL'S Shaftesbury Avenue

Our project started by simply distributing surplus food to people in need. Slowly our network got bigger that we could not knock on each door on our list anymore, so we agreed I park at one point everyday after collection, and people come to take food. At first people were reluctant to come out of their houses, specially after many recent crimes that happened in Parry road. But slowly people started having the trust to come out and have small chat, and in few weeks all the community were waiting for the slot to distribute, only to meet and have small chat. One lady told me I lived at my address for over 15 years, and this is the first time I know who are my neighbours. We created whatsapp group where I post photo of the food collected, and people get notified so they come and wait. Then we added on the group posting unwanted clothes or furniture, and people welcomed the idea and used it a lot. Now the charity who was giving us the slots ended, people were sad. First they were relying financially a lot on this food, and 2nd they stopped coming out and gathering for chats when taking food. People and children are stopping me in the streets to ask me why we stopped or when we are coming back. I can provide more than 50 family contacts, and I can provide extract of the group chats as testimonial of our work for the last few years. In the last year our group expanded a lot. Many people volunteered, we have in total 23 volunteers who are reaching more areas, more people in need, and more charities. We distribute in weekly basis to Lebanese welfare community in Kilburn, to al Nour Arabic school, Mozart street hostel for homeless. One of our volunteers works in care home in Maida Vale and she takes sandwiches and cakes to elderly people who waits for it. Also we do distribute in Harrow road near Zagros where many people who are in need gather evening. We give to Emmanuel Pantry Harrow road 2 days a week. We distribute to Avenues club in Third Avenue, and to the food bank in Queenspark Primary. Our group is always open to anyone who wants to join. People from the group always send me messages to add more people they know or they just met and they believe they need those donations. Our group currently has 70 members, who some of them also take to people they know.

The team at Old Diorama Arts Centre are currently compiling our second annual creation festival for artists with experience of homelessness, now renamed One Roof. In January 2023, ODAC welcomed over 200 visitors to the One Festival of Homeless Arts, to enjoy a range of artistic workshops; including wire sculpting, mudlarking, mask making, and more. We received great feedback from attendees of that festival, some calling it ‘a wonderful holiday’ and promising to return for the next one. We’re holding them to that, and hope to see as many repeat visitors as possible, along with - fingers crossed! - plenty of new faces as well. We are programming one jam-packed week of workshops and classes, plus an open studio space for a second week for artists to spend time on their independent work. We’re hoping to expand the range of the workshops available, and to promote sales of any newly created work the artists wish to sell, with all proceeds going directly to them. In addition to enjoying a week or more of outstanding creative company, we are zeroing in on what we can learn during One Roof 2024. The dedicated arts and homelessness team at ODAC are looking forward to discussions with festival attendees regarding sessions that they might like to attend on a regular basis. Our ideal situation would be to establish a year-round programme of diverse art workshops, co-created with One Roof attendees, incorporating dance, wellness, live arts, music and storytelling, alongside the visual art that put the festival on the map. So we're currently trying to gather volunteers, food donations, and anything going that might be useful to a collective of genre-spanning artists with experience of homelessness. We try to provide a hot lunch each day for all attendees, and would love to be able to offer something for breakfast, plus snacks throughout the afternoon. Over 200 people attended our last festival, so it's a high bar to be able to accommodate and provide for everyone.