Sixth form students at the Baltic-Triangle based Liverpool Life Sciences UTC (University Technical College) have set their minds to work on tackling homelessness and helping Liverpool homeless people in the City Centre.
Life Sciences UTC is a city-centre school for 14-19 year olds specialises in Science and Healthcare, but also offers a full-range of GCSEs and A-Levels to complete in a mature, and hands-on college environment.
It is not only the first UK school to do this, it also has serious links with local universities and workplaces to ensure students have access to some of the world’s most cutting edge technology.
This initiative centered on the issue of homelessness in our city is part of their weekly project-based learning sessions and is designed to supplement a student’s learning experience with real-life experience.
Beginning as a simple fundraising commitment, the students took dedication to the next level by hitting Liverpool’s streets at Christmas 2017 and making a difference directly to the lives of the people who need it most this time of year.
Working through their lunch breaks, the students began a campaign internally within Life Sciences UTC and raised over £120 in just one afternoon.
One student commented:
“We were surprised and happy with the amount we initially raised and how well the campaign was going. […] Hopefully we can look at making this project a regular occurrence, as it’s such a worthy cause and we’ve all loved getting involved.”
Wanting to gain momentum after such a flying start, the students, as promised, didn’t stop there.
With Winter well underway, the group decided to take their involvement even further and, teaming up with local charity The Paper Cup Project, they painstakingly assembled over 40 care packages designed to help rough sleepers get through the cold and miserable Christmas period.
On the 18th December 2017, the students got to work on hand delivering the packages individually to the Liverpool homeless communities of Liverpool City Centre, under the supervision of The Paper Cup Project.
Rough-sleeping men and women of the City were pleased to find new clothing, fresh toiletries and snacks; all of which are vital to the comfort and ease of a person in a difficult circumstance hoping to get back on their feet.
There was even a Christmas card bought and signed by the students for each person.
With rates of homelessness rising, as well as the often unreported yearly rise in homelessness every Christmas – and reports that 1 in 5 families are just two missed paychecks away from becoming homeless – the work carried out by the students and The Paper Cup Project is vital to mental and physical well-being to those on the street.
Steadfast in their dedication to alleviating the toll daily life takes on a homeless person, left-overs from the care packages were also handed out on Christmas Eve.
Life Sciences UTC Health teacher Miss Graham said:
“Our cohort of year 13s are a credit to the UTC and to their city with the way they have embraced the spirit of this project and given so much of their own free time to do it. Not only this, but they’ve managed to inspire younger students in the process, encouraging them to get involved and raising awareness of the social issue of homelessness. They don’t want to stop here and so we’re definitely looking to work with the charity again.”
Liverpool Life Sciences UTC is based in the Baltic’s Greenland Street in the former Contemporary Urban Centre building. Term times run from September – March, with open days in January and in the summertime. Their catchment area includes all local authorities within the Liverpool area. To find out more information on how to get your child in the school, click here.
Show your support for Liverpool homeless charity initiative The Paper Cup Project here.
