I have been volunteering at shelter from the storm for nearly four years. As an animator, I began volunteering as a productive break from the desk and that old cliché of feeling like commercial work was bit soulless and wanting to help people!
From my first shift my preconceptions of homeless people were shattered. I’ve met guests from all kinds of backgrounds, with very different reasons for needing help. There is an assumption that all homeless people are addicts or alcoholics, removed from society, the reality is very different.
Working at the shelter never feels like a chore, I love being there, it’s such a warm, positive, place. As it’s small and independent the approach is always very personal and I’ve enjoyed working closely with guests to help them move on. It’s great when we successfully support someone into work and/or their own accommodation.
My time at the shelter has also had a really positive influence on my life. I’ve recently worked on a series of portrait projects with some of the guests, resulting in an exhibition (find out more here) to challenge people ideas on homelessness. The response that this work has received so far has given the push to take my amateur photography further and I am about to embark on an MA course and am taking on more photography work.