Words by Smiley Team
The art is a vibrant mix of primary colours, and is painted, printed or made from mosaics. It was displayed as a pop-up one day show in the Whitworth in Manchester, one of the country’s most prestigious art galleries.
And the group of men who created it were relaxed, smiling and having fun and that, for the Medaille Trust, is the most important thing.
The charity works across the UK with victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, and their three safe houses in the North help men who have often endured forced labour, beatings, constant humiliation and degredation to rebuild their lives.
Megan Purnell is a case worker at the Trust, and has seen how their art project has had a positive impact on the men she works with.
Megan said: “Many of our clients had a vision of coming to the UK, getting a job, earning money and sending it back home to help their families.
“Instead they feel shame that they were tricked, kept prisoner, had their ID documents taken away and had no ability to send money home.
“Projects like this help us to rebuild their trust, both in other people and this country in general, and to help them to feel like part of a community.”
Those who took part in the project worked with volunteers and local artist Ian McKay firstly to take pictures using a disposable camera, and then use those pictures as inspiration to create art about meaningful people, places or experiences.
Megan said: “Many of the men had never been inside an art gallery before, and didn’t realise spaces like this could be welcoming and include them.
“And being creative was also very important in helping them to express their feelings. At the Trust we provide accommodation, counselling and help and support with things like asylum applications or job hunting. But after what they’ve been through many of our clients can feel overwhelmed or hopeless at their situation.
“Creating art and then seeing it displayed on the wall of a major gallery gave them a real sense of achievement and pride.”
Projects like this are needed now more than ever. The latest statistics show that victims of modern slavery and human trafficking rose by more than a third in 2019.
Megan said: “Our volunteers also run English classes and leisure walks in the countryside, and these kinds of activities are so important in helping our clients to socialise and build the sense of community and belonging they had hoped to find when they decided to come to the UK.”
The Trust are looking for volunteers who can help facilitate activities like this, and also financial donations to make them possible.
For more information see medaille-trust.org.uk.
By Jenna Sloan
