Pantomime shows whatever life throws at you…you can achieve
great things!
(Date of issue: Tuesday, 13 December 2011)
The Healthy Aspirations & Learning Opportunities (HALO)
Project annual Christmas Pantomime has a profound and positive
effect on homeless and vulnerable people.
The HALO Project ran its first panto ‘Dick Whittington’ last
year with the support of local homelessness agencies. It was such a
huge success and proved there was an identified need for this type
of arts project. It was agreed to make it an annual partnership
event in the calendar for all Carlisle homelessness agencies. This
year the panto is the Wizard of Oz and will be performed to an
invited audience on 21st and 22nd December at 2pm at the Salvation
Army, Abbey Street, Carlisle.
For performers and the crew who have experienced homelessness it
raises confidence, self-esteem, skills and social networks. One of
the participants last year said “It gave me a sense of purpose and
helped to recover my feelings of self-worth, as my morale and
self-esteem were at very low ebb. The feelings of elation and
accomplishment we all shared standing on the stage at the end of
the production were something I will never forget, and played a
large part in helping me to overcome my difficulties and start
putting my life back into order.”
Participants this year have helped with the whole process from
script writing, acting, helping with lighting and sound, and
designing the sets for the stage. A documentary is being made of
the whole process and the final panto performance will be filmed
too.
The pantomime last year was watched by an audience of 240
people, many of which were residents of temporary housing. Comments
from participants involved include: “I’ve never done anything like
this before; it was a challenge as I’ve always though of myself as
a loner. I was really scared before going on stage … but I loved
it! I want to do it again, and I think everyone who watched it
benefitted too.”
The arts is now a recognised part of support of homeless people
as highlighted by Homeless Link new campaign ‘Get creative: arts
for all’; a national project which aims to increase homeless
people’s participation in arts and cultural activities in England,
as a sustainable route out of homelessness.
The panto has the involvement from staff and service users from
Impact Housing Association, Cumbria Action for Social Support
(CASS), Riverside, Carlisle City Council, Cumbria Gateway,
Addiction Dependency Solutions, and the Salvation Army. Other
agencies and projects that work with the HALO Project have helped
such as the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Team, William Howard School
and Eden Films.
Rhian Davies, HALO Project Co-ordinator said “This year,
everyone has really got on board with the pantomime. The benefits
to participants are increased confidence and self-esteem which
enables them to engage with local services and therefore move
positively forward to make changes in their lives. It’s hoped the
pantomime project will help change the public’s perception of
homelessness and turn stigma into celebration, and highlight
whatever life throws at you, you can achieve great things.”
The HALO Project was developed in 2009 by the Carlisle Homeless
Improvement Partnership (C.H.I.P), with additional funding secured
from Northern Rock. Over the past two years, nearly 300 homeless
people have participated in positive activities with a third of
these entering training, volunteering or employment. The number of
convictions of people whilst living in temporary accommodation has
fallen by 44% in the second year. This demonstrates an integrated
approach significantly improves the access and quality of services
for homeless people.
Impact Housing Association is the host agency for the HALO
project, if agencies or individuals are interested in being
involved please contact the HALO Co-ordinator, Rhian Davies on Tel;
01228 633645 or email Rhiand@impacthousing.org.uk