Cardboard Citizens

Michael Chandler FRSA invites the Fellowship to join the Citizens Do movement to help tackle homelessness

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Award-winning theatre company Cardboard Citizens has launched Citizens Do, a grass-roots movement which aims to engage and empower everyday citizens to help tackle homelessness. The campaign has been gaining momentum over the past three months as Cardboard Citizens toured the UK with Cathy, working with audience members to collate suggestions on how the public can help people with experience of homelessness. Over 1,200 people so far have signed up for the movement and Cardboard Citizens is calling on the general public to sign up here, and share their actions using #CitizensDo.

Inspired by Ken Loach’s ground-breaking film Cathy Come Home, Cathy was a timely drama exploring the impact of spiralling social housing costs, gentrification and the challenges of forced relocation through the compelling story of one family. Following each performance, the cast discussed the issues raised in the play with audience members, asking for suggestions on how the general public could be empowered to make a difference and tackle homelessness.

Over the course of the three-month tour, hundreds of ideas were collated, ranging from addressing issues around stigma to offering spare rooms to homeless people. Inspired by these suggestions, people who signed up to be part of the movement have received an action or mission to tackle each week. The next stage of Citizens Do will see Cardboard Citizens continue to build the movement, helping enable people to make a difference.

Cardboard Citizens are asking participants to act, share and inspire – sharing their actions as well, either with friends and family, via social media or anonymously on the CitzDo Wall, in the hope that this will inspire others to sign up and take part.

Citizens Do marks the latest initiative by Cardboard Citizens to use theatre and the arts to reach the most marginalised in society and make a positive difference. During the original tour from 2016-2017, Cathy asked audiences for their ideas as to what government and policy makers could do to end homelessness. This resulted in hundreds of Cathy Law suggestions, the top five of which were presented by invitation to the House of Lords at the second reading of the Homelessness Reduction Bill.

Adrian Jackson, Cardboard Citizens’ Artistic Director, said, “After the grandeur of the House of Lords last year, we are excited to live up to our name and try seeing what we mere citizens can do to make the world a better place. It’s an exciting experiment in using theatre to mobilise people.”

Kate Winslet CBE said, “As Cardboard Citizens’ Ambassador for more than 10 years, I’ve repeatedly seen how the company use art to effect change. Their work is always both powerful and inspiring, and I’m excited to see how the Citizens Do movement grows. Sign up and take part!”

Citizens Do is part of Cardboard Citizens’ wider social change and campaigning work, sharing stories, challenging perceptions and stigma, and changing lives. Cardboard Citizens are currently supporting a group of young people with lived experience of homelessness to become Citz Young Storytellers – advocates and campaigners for issues around youth homelessness.

Later this year, Cardboard Citizens will be running its first Arts for Social Change event, bringing together artists and campaigners to explore how arts and creativity can create change. Cardboard Citizens is also using Forum Theatre to train Local Authorities to improve their support of homeless people in light of the new Homelessness Reduction Act.

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