It sits proudly at the top of our staff newsletter, the front of our thank you cards and across our brand new #TeamHOx running tops. So – what’s the story behind our Never Give Up artwork?
Engaging residents in activities they enjoy is often the first step towards building trust with our staff. Activities like gardening or art offer a more relaxed and informal way for people to connect, compared to structured therapeutic groups or one-to-one sessions.
Creative workshops are a regular and very popular fixture on our resident activity calendars. Every week, the wonderful art therapist Vickie Kearney runs sessions at our Oxford hostel and other projects – helping people to express themselves and address their trauma through creativity.
In 2024, we decided to showcase some of the amazing work that was being made by residents during these workshops. Produced specifically for the Through Our Eyes exhibition, the Never Give Up artwork was born out of a collaborative project led by local artist Lisa Curtis (aka Lisa Made It), whose colourful murals can be spotted across Oxfordshire.
Lisa spent time within our projects, listening to residents’ stories and workshopping themes that would inform the final design. The sketch was then placed in the activity room at O’Hanlon House (our Oxford hostel) and staff and residents alike rolled up their sleeves, grabbed and paintbrush and got to work bringing the mural to life.
“I felt part of something during this process and the experience was very therapeutic.” – Homeless Oxfordshire resident
After the exhibition, the mural was installed permanently on the garden wall of our Pre-Recovery Project property, where it helps to inspire people during their journey through recovery. The mural is now affectionally known as Muriel.
Muriel represents our residents, our staff and our mission. We will never give up on anyone because we believe there is always the potential for things to be better.
How engagement activities helped Ben* in his recovery
Ben had a long history of drug use, rough sleeping and mental health issues, and came to the Pre-Recovery Project (a seven-bed house for people preparing to enter rehabilitation or detox) directly from the street.
During his stay, Ben took part in lots of the activities, which improved his wellbeing and recovery skills. He was a regular at the creative workshops led by Lisa, and through these sessions we discovered that he’s a keen rapper and has a real talent for producing impactful messages through his writing. He kindly shared some of his lyrics with us which were featured in the Through Our Eyes exhibition, displayed alongside the Never Give Up mural that he helped to create.
Ben has recently begun rehab and is already making great progress. He plans to relocate and make use of the skills he developed during his stay at the Pre-Recovery Project. In his own words, he is “smashing it”. Looking ahead, Ben hopes to inspire others on their recovery journey and become a mentor with Turning Point.
Help us support more people like Ben
*This is a real resident’s story but their name has been changed to protect their identity.
