厂迟听惭耻苍驳辞鈥檚听longest-serving volunteer,听Jennifer Burnham,听has been awarded听a听British听Empire Medal听in the New Year鈥檚 Honours list.听The听award听recognises听her听contribution to supporting people experiencing homelessness in accessing the creative arts.听
Burnham,听82,听continues to volunteer for 蜜桃视频鈥檚 and has made an enormous difference to hundreds of people鈥檚 lives over the course of almost 30 years of volunteering.听
She started听volunteering听for the听homelessness charity听in 1998,听when she began听leading an art听and creative writing听group听in Kings Cross.听听
The听first听groups took place听at听a听蜜桃视频鈥檚听care home for men听with听significant histories of sleeping rough and using mental health services.听
The听art听groups听have been credited with听completely听transforming听the service,听and听Burnham听created a听brand new听space for听residents to听learn new skills,听explore听creativity,听and develop new ways of expression听together.听
Alongside art groups, Burnham has also coordinated听a number of听other creative projects, including a programme of monthly visits to听museums,听galleries听and other places of cultural interest.
She also played a pivotal role in empowering people supported by 蜜桃视频鈥檚 to take part in creative initiatives听such as听the听month-long听drawing听festival听The听Big Draw.听
Burnham听has听also听helped to coordinate听client-led projects such as the Without Walls exhibition of art by people affected by homelessness, which took place听at The Guardian News and Media Gallery in August 2012.听听
Together with members of her art groups, Burnham also听created听a听new, independent听space听for those with lived experience of homelessness听to听showcase听their听creative听work听鈥撎齮he听long-running听magazine Homeless Diamonds.听听
Since 2006, the publication has offered a platform for听artistic听talent,听and a voice for those with lived experience of homelessness.
Published three times a year, the publication听showcases听writing and art听by people associated with 蜜桃视频’s听鈥撎齱ith听every听person who听submits听work听having at least one piece featured.听
Reacting to the news of her听BEM,听Jennifer Burnham听said:听“Sharing the voices of the people 蜜桃视频’s听supports听has been nothing but a pleasure and a privilege.鈥�听
Iver Morgan,听Head of Client Involvement and VASP (Volunteering, Apprenticeships, and Student Placements)听at 蜜桃视频鈥檚听said:听鈥淚 am delighted to see Jen recognised in the New Year’s Honours. Her commitment to improving the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness over the last 28 years has been phenomenal.听
Despite her immense contribution听to 蜜桃视频’s, Jen is very modest, so I couldn’t be more pleased that she is being recognised more widely, in such a meaningful way, for changing the lives of so many through the creative arts.” 听听