Photo book of Manchester life in lockdown to raise money for homeless

A new book of photographs documenting the human side of Manchester’s lockdown goes on sale this week, revealing the emotional impact of restrictions on people across the city.

Stay Home: Manchester is being published by Manchester-based photographer and designer, Sushil Nash, in aid of local homeless charity Coffee4Craig.

Sushil, 31, collected the images from people across the city after issuing a call out for submissions.

He was overwhelmed by the response, and says the book of 100 intimate pictures and words will become a “a collective memory of how this time has affected our lives”.

Sushil says he started the project by sending out a simple request: asking the public to send in “a photograph you took during lockdown, and a few words describing what it means to you.

“I left the question quite open, because I wanted to let people interpret it in their own way, and so the responses that came in were really varied,” he says. 

“But I think that makes the collection compelling.

“It acknowledges the fact that none of us have just had one singular experience of lockdown – it’s been a real mess of ups and downs. 

“It also meant that the submissions are very personal. This book isn’t so much about photography – it’s about people’s stories and experiences, so the magic is in how people have reflected on the images they shared.

“It feels quite intimate in that way.”

The project has been supported by Manchester-based charity Coffee4Craig, who will be using profits to provide care for the city’s homeless and others in crisis.

The charity operates an out-of-hours drop-in service in the city centre every evening, offering hot food, showers, food parcels, medical support and mental health crisis intervention.

“A cruel irony of lockdown is that it has been painful for everyone forced to stay in their homes, whilst also making life increasingly difficult for those who don’t have a home to stay in,” says Sushil.

Stay Home: Manchester is available to pre-order now at stayhomemanchester.com until 31st January 2021, with copies arriving in February.