Hard-hitting art (From Stroud News and Journal)

Hard-hitting art

STUDENTS at a Stroud school have been learning about the realities of homelessness and have put together an exhibition of hard-hitting posters highlighting the problem on show at the Museum in the Park.

The Year 9 Archway pupils painted the posters in their art lessons after researching the issue and hearing a presentation from Josephine Jackson, Stroud District Council's homelessness outreach worker.

The presentation focused on the particular problems faced by the young homeless. "We go into schools and do a presentation to raise awareness about the realities of being homeless but also to let students know where they can go to get help," said Ms Jackson.

Art teacher Bridget Dorrell, who organised the project, said: "The students became a lot more aware of something that was under their noses but they didn't really think about before.

"It also helped to dispel ideas about stereotypes of homeless people and perhaps got rid of some of their assumptions."

Pupil Isobelle Ellis-Cockcroft said: "I didn't really know there was much homelessness around Stroud but we're learning more about that now."

Classmate Rowan Tindale added: "We didn't realise how many homeless people there were until we were told about it."

The art class' Charlotte Hunt said they had looked at the causes of homelessness while friend Eliza Harris said it had been an eye-opener to discover there were homeless children within the Five Valleys and it was not just a problem faced by adults.

* The exhibition will be on display at the Museum in the Park until Thursday, January 27. Anyone effected by homelessness can talk to SDC's rehousing department on 01453 754085.