An event offering free “open-talk” workshops around the complexities of homelessness and mental health
Coinciding with World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day (10 October), the event has been organised by Manchester Arndale in partnership with Real Change MCR and one of its partner charities, Coffee4Craig.
Visitors to Manchester Arndale will be able to join talking workshops run by support colleagues from Coffee4Craig to learn more about the issues at play, find out how to become a volunteer, or gain further information about the support available. The charity was set up by Risha Lancaster in memory of her brother, Craig, who died on the streets, and has now evolved into the only seven-night drop in for people facing street homelessness in Manchester.
The event in Exchange Court (near Next) will be situated around a giant blue elephant, symbolising the fact that homelessness and mental health remain difficult topics to discuss and are often still considered The Elephant in the Room. Many guests at Coffee4Craig explain that they are unable to speak up to families and are often living double lives after initially becoming homeless, continuing to attend their current employment whilst visiting Coffee4Craig for food and sleeping in their cars.
The team at Coffee4Craig will discuss the fact that homelessness is a real possibility to many people in society and workshops will touch on the contributing factors to homelessness, such as mental health, relationship breakdown, job loss, housing insecurity or death of a loved one.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM will take place on 9 & 10 October at Manchester Arndale from 12-6pm each day. It has been commissioned by the shopping centre to raise awareness of these issues as well as generate donations to Coffee4Craig.
The charity is one of several supported by Manchester Arndale’s long-time partner Real Change MCR, who will also be at the event to promote ways that the public can help. Real Change MCR is a fund to help people experiencing homelessness in Manchester pay for practical items that they need to build lives away from the streets. The items can include: deposits for homes, clothes, furnishings for new homes, travel costs or employability training.
The fund is used by Manchester homelessness organisations and charities who provide long-term support to people, including Coffee4Craig, Barnabus, Shelter, MASH, Mustard Tree and more.
