Big Issue In The North Magazine.

This is a scan from this weeks The Big Issue In The North, which features an article about The Outreach program at The North office and what Amber and I do with the team and with the vendors. It was a really nice article and has gone to 'marketing' at college.

TheBigIssueIn THE NORTH Magazine.

Yesterday we got a call from the office and they said they had been given a two page spread to fill, by the editorial office in Manchester.

They'd thought about it and wanted to write about the OutReach program, about what Amber and I do and how we find volunteering within our community.

Today we met with Claire at the office at 11, then went out to do a mini-outreach, with Claire taking photos of us interacting with the vendors and signing the sheet as we usually do when we're out.

Of course the vendors were asked if they minded having their photo taken first, but they also had to sign a form declaring their consent to have the photo taken and printed.

We finally gave Claire some quotes about how we feel about volunteering and how much of a positive activity it is. 'Interacting with people you wouldn't normally, giving something back to the community in which you live'.

The magazine gets published every week and so the OutReach page spread should be published and ready to print by next Tuesday.

OutReach - Being a Volunteer. Problems.

We're really enjoying being part of the OutReach programme/team. Every week we do a couple of hours on tuesday and a couple on friday, walking the city to socialize with the vendors and check that they're selling correctly.

We've been doing it since the beginning of December and have just got to know most of the everyday vendors. There's been a couple of OutReaches that we've done when somebody else from the team has already done one, only an hour earlier.

You do tend to then think, is it constructive me doing another one only an hour later, will much be different? Or are we reducing the vendors selling time by getting them to sign the sheet again only an hour later?

When we went round on tuesday, it just happened that a girl called Frankie had head out about 30 mins before us, so we were practically following her. The first two vendors we saw got a bit pissed off about us being out again, they are used to 2 outreaches a day am/pm at the most maybe none somedays. and so felt that it was wrong for us to be out again.

Some vendors told us we were surely wasting our time. Obviously we really enjoying doing the work and helping in the community so we just shook that comment off. It was easy to kind of see their point though. One talked of how they used to have people they can talk to back at the office but not anymore, couldnt we be doing something that.

With a bad start, we rang the office and relayed the situaiton, Pat just said to try and get them to sign, but I think she could tell we felt a little uncomfortable with the situation, she then told us to just walk round and observe all the vendors. Also she told us about specific things to look out for and specific vendors.

We began to observe and write about what we were seeing. It was pretty horrible though, it was hard to observe without feeling like we were spying and snitching, it just didn't feel right, hiding ourselves. It also made us think about or position and how we see ourselves with-in the group. It's not about trying to be their friend as such.

But when we arrived back at the office we had good talk-meeting with pat and another outreach worker called Frankie. It's good to be able to have little meetings now and then, this keeps us all in good communication with one another, helps put into play vendors worries/frustrations and we get to know the vendors better.

Pat said that it was good we went out again, you gain an awful lot, because the vendors don't expect you too be out. We did gain a lot from the observations, but at the same time it didn't feel right. Maybe this is something we just have to get used to?

It's taught me a lot about volunteering and how sometimes you can't be yourself in situations, this has been a massive lesson in any volunteering I do in the near or distant future.

I know how important it is to understand your group fully and this will hopefully fare me well for the future.

'Beautiful Losers'.

This was recommended to me by friends, a film called Beautiful Losers which is a 2007 documentary feature film by director Aaron Rose and co-directed by Joshua Leonard. It was produced by Sidetrack Films. Actually a book before a film...

The film focuses on the careers and work of a collective group of artists who since the 1990s began a movement in the art world using D.I.Y, aesthetics from skateboarding, graffiti and underground music such as punk rock and hip-hop. The artists discussed and interviewed in the film include Cheryl Dunn, Shepard Fairey, Geoff McFetridge, Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Mike Mills, Steven 'Espo' Powers, Aaron Rose, Ed Templeton.

The film, a series of interviews with these artists explains their reasoning behind their "do-it-yourself" style of street art. As some of these artists discuss their growth in popular artistic culture they explain how becoming renown and admired in the art world was something that never occurred to them from their various roots in street culture, or simply creating art for themselves. As many of the artists began to be recognizable and sought after they discuss their series of commercial success: creating advertisements for popular products, designing products themselves, working in film and being hired to paint and create artwork in well known locations. The personal feelings and convictions of some of the artists and how creating work for corporations compares to their beginnings in street culture is also discussed.

It was a really useful film to watch and made me think about the importance of working within your local community and a where you've come from, playing an important part within your work. 

Its very inspirational and also makes you think about how we as artists actually produce our work? I liked the idea of the artist saying that peoples thoughts are that you have to work in a certain way to make it as an artist, but that he doesn't he works as he did and has fun as a child would do. He comments on how there is no point forcing work, you just let something happen. Nothing you can do is wrong, it just progresses. This is something that lays heavy in my mind, as it's something that I do think about a lot.

It is a film that I feel I will watch many a times, for every reason, inspiration, innovation and to relax myself about where my future lies within the design world.

First Shadowed Outreach.

Today, after a short induction and re-cap on what our duties are as an OutReach volunteer, we went out for the first time with Claire, one of the team at The North office. They try to do OutReach everyday am and pm, but this just isn't possible with the lack of volunteers.

We left the office with a clipboard and chart of a route of vendor 'spots'. As the weather wasn't brilliant Claire was unsure whether there would be many vendors about. It turned out there were quite a few out selling the magazine - 7 in total which was pretty impressive as far as Claire was concerned. 

We were introduced to each vendor and as we met each one she explained how it-'OutReach' worked. Whilst having a chat with the vendor and seeing how they are, the place they're selling from would be written down on the sheet, as well as their badge number. We have to check that they have their badge showing, their bib and also check the numbers of the magazines, to see that they match the ones they were sold. Finally the vendor signs the sheet. Some areas are more popular with selling magazines than others. Claire explained that if a vendor has a time slot in a certain 'spot' in the afternoon, but decides to go somewhere in the morning, however somebody else wants to work there and has no saved spot, then the vendor with a reserved space in the afternoon would have to give it up.

As Claire was explaining the process, it seemed that everything was done very fairly and pretty organised.

Its a pretty relaxed process and as we walked the city centre it was nice to get just a tiny insight into what these people do and how they go about selling the magazine. One strong rule is that they sell, where they've been told to stand and do not wonder. If they are obstructing the publics path then they can have complaints. It was nice to see them greet Claire as a familiar face and with a happy face, someone they could talk to.

I am looking forward to our second, shadowed OutReach next wednesday at 2:00pm. It's in the afternoon again as apparently there tend to be more vendors around in the afternoons than mornings or evenings. Most vendors sell in the afternoon purely because they dont' actually live in Leeds, or for the women that vend, they don't want to travel in the dark on their own. Plus the only volunteers they have only work am with lectures in the afternoon.

We also had a chat to Claire about how they want to engage with the vendors futher, possibly through us taking photos of them, or giving the vendors disposable cameras to use themselves and photograph their day to day lives for us then to do something with, which is something I have just started to think about. Possibly integrating it into college, or putting a little panflet/book together from the point of view of the vendors themselves, maybe to go inside the magazine? All very loose ideas for the moment...but Claire explained, it would be nice to have some 'creative' input from us.

Send & Receive Group Tutorial.

I found this really useful, in getting to grips with why I am 'myself' doing what I am doing for this brief and how it is what I need to do rather than something I have to do. But also a better understanding of how to approach finding texts and things to put in my presentation.

I was concerned about gathering texts to apply to my presentation and also whether they had to be very 'accademic' applying to design somehow, or whether I could concentrate on articles to do with the homeless as these will further my communication and understanding of my group.

For the time being I am searching for texts, but have been looking at some of THE NORTH magazine issues from the past and picking out articles from there and making notes, in order to understand better.

(The north Article.

From no.777 15-21 june 2009

HOMELESS IN BRITAIN SPECIAL).

- Samantha Allen - Bournemouths' Big Issue Distribution officer...

- Ralph Milward, 41, not an isolated incident.

  Millward had been a well-liked Big Issue vendor for over 8 years.

  'It raises questions about how vulnerable the vendors are'.

- Bournemouth Big Issue Foundation worker....

There's a cloud hanging over the place because vendors know they are vulnerable...these guys are dealing with verbal abuse daily, and yet the odd complaint about them can be blown out of proportion by the tabloids.'

- VULNERABILITY. They are people trying to do something good, and move on with their lives, trying to gain self confidence back - which they lose lots of through begging before they even begin to vend.

Serious attacks like Millward, knock this confidence even futher back, in a different way, but all the same negatively.

- A vendor speaks of how he has been attacked many times, even his sleeping bag being set on fire along with his bad taken along with personal items and 35 pounds.

He explains that people think they are vulnerable because they sell the big issue...and that because of this they have the right to victimise them. It makes him more determined to caryy on selling? Doesnt do this to everybody though.

- ONE THIRD of big issue vendors, have experienced physical violence selling the magazine and most put up with the insults and abuse.

- A friend of Milwards

has had abuse thrown at him and objects: ' We're not tramps - it's just that life throws you some bad cards sometimes'.

- On 30th June, West Cliff Baptist Church will be hosting a community Forum, which will consider homelessness and the plight of the vulnerable.

- 'Violence is present all the time if you're homeless...If somebody is selling the big issue, people know they are vulnderable, so ppl selling the magazine are very often victims of violence. You only need to take a walk round the city and you'll find one seller with black eyes. 

The NORTH Update...

Today we were lucky enough to meet and speak with Nicole Cunliffe, who we were passed onto by Patricia as she has been ill recently.

The Centre.

We met Nicole at 3 and she took us into their office to have a chat. Amazingly Nicole is one of THREE people that run the office! She also told us that there's only 3 people working in the editorial team, which produce the magazine! It's amazing that they manage to keep up with everything with such a small team.

She also explained that, they are lucky to be where they are, as the centre itself, it situated right next door to a doctors for the homeless, next to a needle exchange, and opposite the City Drug Service. Nicole explained that's its useful having them all so close for many reasons. Including the fact that, when people come that aren't taking care of themselves, they can refuse to give them the magazines to sell and there can be no excuses as it's just across the road.

The Organisation.

Nicole explained that most people just come to them and they don't really use agencies. Once people turn up at the office, they are assessed through being asked a series of questions and a chat with one of the people working there. Criteria for people being assessed and given the magazines to sell, is:

- The person is homeless or vulnerable.

- The person speaks good english...for Eastern European vendors, language is very important, for their own safety.

The team at THE NORTH, will try to sort the homeless with accomodation, sign posting people to other centres or find them through agencies, offering outside help. They can also help with getting people benefits.

She told us of the programme 'OutReach', volunteers that walk the streets of Leeds, chatting to vendors and seeing how their selling is going. Also a group called 'Simon on the Streets'- they work with rough sleeping.

Once the vendor is accepted, along with all the help they are allocated a pitch. There are 15 in Leeds, and 98 pitches out of town.

The Magazine.

Although the Big Issue is related to The NORTH, Nicole told us that they actually have nothing to do with the big issue and aren't funded by them at all in any way. The NORTH is just something local.

They sell 30,000 magazines a week accross the board, and 4,000 a week in Leeds alone! Apparently they work very closely with Manchester, as this is where the magazine is designed at put together, selling the magazine for a pound to the vendor and then they sell it onto the public for 2 pounds. Manchester sell loads! 

People they get at the centre: A real variety of people turn up at the centre. Lots of Eastern European people turn up, with mainstream work in society unavailable to them it seems a good option. Disgustinley enough, Nicole told us that they have had many complaints from members of the public about them enabling Eastern European citizens selling the magazine and that they just want local people selling it, saying it's unfair! 

But THE NORTH help anyone, no matter who they are.

The age range of people working for the big issue at the moment, goes from the youngest being 18 and the oldest a 65 year old.

Vendors.

70% of the vendors THE NORTH have, are male. There now appear to actually be less traditional vendors than there are Eastern European vendors, with most of these being women (often pregnant). THE NORTH have vendors as far as Hull.

The people they are often helping are people that have had relationship breakdowns, and that used to be involved in companies and work. The reccesion surely has a big part to play in this. THE NORTH are catching these people and working with them to then get them back into mainstream society.

The young people that get involved in selling the magazine, are often using it to just get back on their feet.

There's no limit on the time that people can vend for, can be a couple of months or 30 years! Nicole said that someone that they have there, has done it for this long and just enjoys it.

Many of the homeless people they get are often feeding drug habits, some even sell the magazine to feed the habit, THE NORTHS attitude to this, which I think Is sensible it that they're better of making the money that way, then mugging somebody for the money.

Nicole later spoke of the fact that in the assessment they give each person, they are only willing to take vendors on if they really want to do it themselves. Not if they have been forced to take part in selling the magazine.

Agreement when selling the magazine and when joining.

When they are accepted, the vendors agree to try and help themselves (with drugs), but also they agree to guidelines when selling the magazine.

- They are only aloud to sell the magazine between the hours of 7:30am and 8 in the evening.

- The must not be under the influence of any drug or alcohol when selling.

- Must be well enough.

Other than that THE NORTH is pretty easy to get on with. Some others are more demanding.

THE NORTH are in touch with the police and also 'City Centre Leeds' which can monitor the vendors to an extent and get in touch with people in the office if anything goes wrong.

Confidentiality.

In the assessment, the vendors list all the people that THE NORTH can approach if need be and they communicate a lot with the police. This is done due to risks to the vendor but also any risks to the public.

 

Nicole gave us a couple of things to take away, one of which was a copy of the magazine from june of this year. The others were a booklet on TheBigLifeGroup - Changing LIVES 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. A group that create oppurtunities for people to chnage their lives for the better. The grup was formed in 2002 and now includes five businesses and 3 charities - including The Big Issue In The North. 

What now...

We've asked to do some volunteer work, so Nicole suggested that we volunteer to do 'OutReach', walking round Leeds City Centre and talk to vendors, see how they are and how the selling is going. 

For now we want to do a couple of hours a week and Nicole needs people for afternoons,which is perfect for us. She said that obviously the first time we go out, she will accompany us. But for now she has sent us the application forms to fill in and get back to her, also noting what hours we can volunteer for.

Second S&R Workshop.

So basically, over the last week I've been thinking about how thrown I was by the text my group was given to read. The Death Of The Author, by Roland Barthes. It was so hard to read because of the language, I think we looked every other word up! But therefore learnt a lot. The idea of the reading in groups was to read a sentence then discuss it, therefore understanding and sharing ideas/opinions about what the text was trying to say and explain. We got there in the end!

The text seemed to talk about, when an author writes, do they portray themselves? This linked to designers as well. 

Do they create work for themselves or is it all for society?

A quote at the beginning makes you think whether it's the author talking of his own opinions or whether he's describing society? The paragraph describes writing as something you get lost in. As soon as you apply something as a story - it's possible the situation can loose the reality and when someone tells a story, you judge them on how they tell the story - not what they're actually saying. In the text we questioned who the authors voice is? What role does the persons name have? 

If we look back in time, we used to not know who wrote what? ... 

On the second page it talks about writer expressing their own views/opinions in their writing - and how their writing is effected by their own lives, tastes and passions.

A word we picked out and became an integral part of what it was about was 'ethnographics', this being ...'the study of individual human societies'.

But before the workshop, I has read the Rick Poyner - First Things First texts which did interlink with our text and also others that groups had read. This text describes design as too commercial, seems to say that there's too much effort on triviality. A key quote: 'Design was in danger of forgetting It's responsibility to struggle for a better life for all'.

From reading the Foucault text, I found that it talks of the modernist movement giving privileges to the 'author' - and this requires a quest for originality. Examples would be Van Gogh/Pollock ( It's art because he made it). All about the 'name'. This seems to tie in well with 'The Death Of The Author' - Roland Barthes. The ' name' situation happens in literature too, an example of this is the hype around Dan Brown.

Banksy also becomes 'semi-legal and privileged. Writing and authoring are two very different things. The text seems to relate graphic designers as 'authors'. Warhol is another example of the 'name' - all his stuff was factory produced!

But are ancient texts without 'authors' more authentic? ...The bible?

The 'Designer As The Author', seems to portray known scientist V unknown scientist. Is it all about the clients message? Does the text project ideas about modernism? Should we be bothered who's designed something?

The text by Papanell - 'Social Change', suggests that designers could make a difference but don't choose to. Its seems to have a totally different attitude to the other texts. Also saying that only a fleet few actually get to become designers? ... Market competition does not allow for ethical design.

All these texts question the 'Send and Receive' brief. 

How do you design FOR people and not at them?

You are alienated by the things which are targeted at you - (Myths of Design).

Christian spoke of 'the triangle' - 

Practitioner  WORLD

(YOU) (Your Group/Organisation)

Critical Discourses

'I just need to think about how to join the dots'.

The North...No reply as of yet.

... the lady Patricia, that we emailed got back in touch and suggested we give her some dates we would be available to go in and have a chat to see what we were really interested in doing and how we want to get involved with The North.

 

We hoped to meet her next week, and hopefully everything will become much clearer and we can sort how how we want to be involved and her own opinions on it.

However she is not getting back to us and it's been a couple of weeks. We are planning on calling this next weekend coming up...

But are currently writing down questions and information regarding the 'send and receive' brief and working out how we actually want to be involved - how we'd get most out of it taking the brief into account and what our aims for this project are.

Send and Receive...'Work with your local community'...

THE

BIG

ISSUE

http://www.bigissueinthenorth.com/

IN

THE

NORTH...

'The North is a business solution to a social problem'...It employs people to write, design and distribute a magazine that is sold by homeless people across the North of England.

It also had a tailored programme that goes with selling the magazine called The Big Life plan, which helps to support vendors achieve their goals and move away from the streets for good.

Vendors buy The Big Issue in the North from one of our regional offices for £1 and then sell it on established pitches in towns and cities across the North of England for £2. They keep the £1 they make on every magazine.

Selling The Big Issue in the North gives homeless people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income. It also gives homeless people motivation and self-esteem.

Big Issue in the North vendors are making a commitment to earn an income - 65% of vendors have never begged.

97% of vendors say they commit a lot less crime since they have been selling the magazine.

This is something my friend Amber is also interested in through the way that they allow people to help themselves, as an alternative to general charity work, and so we are both trying to get a place with the group.

After reading about other organisations through Voluntary Action Leeds, Leeds City Council and others, we weren't sure what we were interested in, but after a chat with Christian it was clear that people use this brief to do something they would never really do and it gives you the chance to push yourself out into society and face something you may find an uncomfortable situation to be in.

Living in the city centre we walk home everyday to see people selling the North and a guy sells it outside our flat most days. After buying a copy to read through we knew it was something we were interested in and so re-searched it further in anticipation to get in touch.

We have got in touch with the nearest office which is in Leeds...sending an email to a woman named Patricia, with reasoning for wanting to work closely with them for a short amount of time and for any information or perhaps a short chat with her or someone involved within the group.

This is the first people we've got in touch with and so await a reply.

Here's our email..