Truro Cathedral features in St Petrocs’ powerful outdoor exhibition sharing accounts of housing insecurity

A moving and insightful exhibition giving voice to people in Cornwall who have struggled with housing insecurity or homelessness since the start of the pandemic is now open across Cornwall – and Truro Cathedral is hosting one of the powerful portraits being displayed at around 40 outdoor locations across Cornwall.

People. Project Cornwall - led by St Petrocs, a charity supporting adults in Cornwall struggling with housing, facing or experiencing homelessness - shares the experiences of 70 people interviewed living in Cornwall through indoor and outdoor photographic portrait exhibitions, a website and book, and challenges negative societal stigma and stereotypes by stating that all people deserve homes.

The first location of the multi-site pan-Cornwall outdoor exhibition was unveiled at the Eden Project Sleep Out on 10 November and it is now rolling out at nearly 40 locations across Cornwall, each displaying a part of the exhibition.

A number of high-profile partners have signed up to host one of the outdoor portraits including Truro Cathedra, The Eden Project, the Minack Theatre, Rick Stein Restaurants, BBC Radio Cornwall, and Jubilee Pool, alongside smaller organisations and members of the public who’ve volunteered to display a portrait outside their business or home. One portrait is also being hosted by Centrepoint in London, a charity working with young people facing homelessness.

This innovative and ambitious St Petrocs project is a collaboration with social documentary photographer Gavan Goulder and community arts organisation StreetDraw24 – who are all working together to shine a light on an issue that increasingly affects the whole of the UK.

The team heard many heart-breaking stories of living on the streets or in cars or vans, of facing eviction, sofa-surfing or living with extended family in cramped conditions and more, as well as practical and uplifting advice on how to survive tough times.

Helen Trevaskis, project lead for People. and Founder and Director of StreetDraw24, said: “When we decided to invite organisations and individuals to help us stage this unique multi-site exhibition we didn’t know if anyone would say “Yes”! It felt risky. It’s been overwhelming to see so many step forward to support those who shared their stories and had their portraits taken during the project.”

Henry Meacock, Chief Executive Officer of St Petrocs, said: “The People. Project Cornwall is a wonderful demonstration of how we are all individuals but that we are part of the collective. 

“Through the combination of portrait photography and the careful curation of personal stories, the project has created a legacy of a point in time that I hope will inspire change.  We must listen to the voices of our community.”

A St Petrocs client featured in the People. exhibition, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “Why do people have this stigma around homelessness that says people that ended up homeless are worthless? Something needs to be done to highlight this because there are some intelligent and useful people to society who end up homeless. You’d like people to treat you with a bit of dignity if you found yourself in that position.”

Rebecca Ryder, from St Day, is one of the members of the public who has volunteered to host one of the portraits. She said: “'I think it’s a beautiful idea, very clever and of great value. There is a hidden aspect to homelessness across the country, not just Cornwall, and this project offers the opportunity for a wider discussion instead of the usual stereotyping.'

Architect Charles Green said of his business taking part, "Life can change in an instant for anyone. As designers of new homes throughout Cornwall, we are able to help focus attention on the plight of homelessness within the County by hosting a portrait at our business - we hope it will help to open up a wider conversation about homelessness and the individuals that are affected by it." 

A book has been published, with a copy due to be archived at Kresen Kernow - Cornwall’s historical archive and the National Library - to mark the severity of the situation so many people in Cornwall find themselves caught up in right now.

Find out more about where you can see the exhibition at: www.PeopleProjectCornwall.co.uk