Homelessness is a growing issue in London. Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network show that there were 11,993 people sleeping rough in 2023/24 – an increase of 19% since 2022/23.
One organisation supporting those currently experiencing, at risk of, or recovering from homelessness is the Single Homeless Project (SHP).
With over 10,000 people per year accessing their services, SHP provides vital support to Londoners who are struggling with the traumatic impacts of homelessness and insecure housing.
We spoke to Ruth Milne, the Creative Industries Coordinator at SHP, about the organisation’s work and a makeup project she led with ArtHouse, SHP’s supportive art programme.
‘ArtHouse is an art programme that is offering art opportunities to people who are supported by SHP,’ Ruth tells us, ‘We’ve done screen printing, carpentry, drama, regular trips to the theatre, regular gallery trips, we have our annual art exhibition’.
These accessible opportunities to engage in various art forms has supported participants to gain skills, develop their confidence and improve their mental health. In addition, 87% of participants who have engaged in SHP’s art programme went on to take part in their education, training and employment (ETE) programme.
One particularly impactful course run by ArtHouse and supported by Islington Giving focused on creative makeup.
‘We explored four different types of makeup: special effects, drag makeup, theatrical makeup and commercial, and we also used it as a space to discuss this theme of identity in whatever that meant to the young people’.
We were really struck by the relevance of this course for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity and the positive impact it had on their lives.
‘We know that there’s a lot that comes up in services around eating disorders and lots of engagement on social media of living up to a perfect beauty ideal’, Ruth tells us, ‘We know that [creative makeup] is an ETE skill and we know that people wanted to learn that skill’.
Over a series of workshops, participants learnt a range of makeup styles and practiced their new skills on visiting models.
They were also introduced to the makeup industry by a professional makeup artist with lived experience of homelessness, which Ruth says, ‘Helped them overcome limiting beliefs about what they can achieve’.
By the end of the programme, participants had the opportunity to showcase photos of their work at ArtHouse’s annual exhibition at Greenwich University gallery, three participants received an AQA accreditation in creative makeup, and all participants went on to use SHP’s ETE support programme.
Below are some testimonials from participants who took part in the course:
‘I didn’t have anything to get up for before but now I do’
‘I am just proud that I did it and I saw it through, that’s a big thing for me’
‘The task encouraged me to be creative and more importantly confident’
We are so impressed by the services SHP has to offer! If you’d like to support their work and the people accessing their services, you can donate money or art supplies directly to ArtHouse or email art@shp.co.uk to enquire about volunteering.
By Lydia Rose, Islington Giving Alumni Storyteller
Lydia Rose is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural organiser based in Islington, whose mission is to build life-affirming relations and systems through radical creativity and collaboration.
