Established 2005 Registered Charity No. 1110656

Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

current issue

December 2025 – January 2026 : Resolutions READ ONLINE

RECENT TWEETS

Scratch that

December 01 2025
© Natalie Pearson © Natalie Pearson

A volunteer at Arts & Homelessness International’s first Scratch Night explains what the event is. By Rhonagh O’Donnell

What, where and when

What: Arts & Homelessness International, working with One Roof ODAC, is running free, welcome-to-all ‘scratch nights’ where people with lived experience of homelessness are invited to workshop artistic projects they are working on. These can range from spoken word recitals, to interprative dance.
Where: Scratch Nights will be held at Old Diorama Arts Centre, 201 Drummond Street, London NW1 3FE.
When: The next Scratch Night is scheduled for 27 February 2026. Dates and times for future Scratch Nights can be found on the ODAC website: olddiorama.com or by emailing samra@artshomelessint.com


In mid September 2025, I was lucky enough to volunteer on the first ever Scratch Night, hosted by Arts & Homelessness International (AHI), in collaboration with One Roof ODAC.

Arriving at the multipurpose Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC), there’s a warm, relaxed welcome from the second you enter the door. The place feels very alive.

The Drummond Street Artists group has created the most vibrant, compelling exhibition in the foyer, which ran up to 18 October. All the paintings were for sale – and 100% of profits go directly to the artists, some of whom I had the joy to meet at the Scratch Night.

The centre itself has fantastic facilities and helpful, fun staff. The core AHI team: Matt Peacock, Samra Said and Katie Langford, instantly make you feel at ease. It was great to get stuck in.

This Scratch Night gives people with lived experience of homelessness the chance to try out any creative work in progress. There’s no pressure to have something polished before performing. The bare bones of ideas, in any medium, are welcome.

It’s a place to witness – and be part of – some incredible creativity.

It’s a place to chat (if you feel like it), enjoy some food and meet some like-minded souls.

The joy is, you can contribute as little or as much as you like, either as an audience member or a participant.

Host David Tovey welcomed a number of performers who had signed up ahead of the event. More were inspired on the spot to take part. The spirit of connection in the room was special.

After each person shared their piece, Calum Perrin (an Associate alumni of AHI) led informal feedback chats in a supportive structure.

Calum used something called Critical Response Process as a guide, a feedback method developed by artist Liz Lerman. The idea is it motivates the performer to go and take their next steps in developing their work. It’s relaxed, refreshing and really useful.

Philip Bayes performed a monologue about housing. He delivered it in the style of a speech to the House of Commons. It was brilliantly detailed and based on lived experience. It’s a piece you hope will get heard by those who can enact change.

Alain English performed some excellent new poetry, with powerful physicality.

Nell Hardy, Founder of Response Ability Theatre, led her co-creatives in what was unbelievably their first time performing the opening song to their next play: COMPLEX. The harmonies were mesmerising.

ODAC’s keyboard was put to wonderful use by Dr Mehdi, whose first composition began as a piece of classical music, developing into a song. He sang in Farsi, letting us know the meaning behind the lyrics afterwards.

A number of other artists spontaneously performed new poetry and music – including a very honest, topical poem written only that morning.

The evening culminated in a merry jam session, which left us feeling on a high.

The strength of community was deep. It was an important evening, full of life, light, creative expression and good chats.

The AHI x One Roof ODAC will now be a regular event on the calendar –trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

< Poet's story Turn the page >
December 2025 – January 2026 : Resolutions

CONTENTS

BACK ISSUES
BACK TO PAGE TOP