‘Getting homeless people off the streets is not enough. A place in a hostel or bed and breakfast solves only part of the problem.’

In Spring 2025 I was commissioned by Shoosmiths solicitors to provide the artwork and stories for a fundraising evening in support of the homeless charity, Embassy. Here’s the rest of the introduction:

‘For the past few years Embassy’s dedicated resettlement team – part parents, part mentors – has been doing things differently by giving residents in their shared houses the skills they need to live independently. It works.

‘Now they’re building Embassy Village to significantly increase the number of people they can help. Tucked under the Castlefield Viaduct alongside the inner ring road, it will provide purpose-built homes for 40 homeless men in Manchester. Every resident will have their own front door with access to community spaces for eating, socialising, mentoring, sports and wellness.’

The Embassy Village opened in February 2026. You can read more about it here.

And these are the sketches and stories I made of current and former Embassy residents as well as Embassy staff.