Lars Petrova-Taylor - Outreach projects

CRISIS Croydon, London - Progression Coach and Outreach Art Lead, Refugee centre.

Crisis is a UK-based charity dedicated to helping homeless people. It provides vital services such as accommodation, education, training, and support to individuals facing homelessness in the Croydon area. The organization aims to empower individuals to rebuild their lives, find stable housing, and reintegrate into society. Crisis Croydon plays a crucial role in addressing the complex challenges faced by homeless individuals and advocating for long-term solutions to homelessness. Connecting individuals from around the globe with a team of local changemakers

I curated a large scale permanent exhibition from service members artwork at CRISIS charity London in 2019 bringing together a street festival and several galleries. The ecosystem we promoted was free of any hierachy and shifted mindsets of the general public to see people who wuld normally be considered on the outside of society to be celebrated and valued. I worked for 6 years from starting as a Progression Coach and becoming an Outreach Arts Lead. Delivering workshops in mixed media art, photography, sound, photoshop, film and crafts in youth hostels, community centres, refugee centres and schools. I gained great skills in safeguarding individuals, management of risk, equality and diversity principles and designing and innovating with a broad range of individuals that gave me a perspective I will always value and integrate as much as I can in all I do going forward, especially in terms of accessibility to equal rights.

www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/croydon/

Often our otreach arts programs involved working with refugee centres and especially refugee women and children at the Croydon refugee centre. This gave individuals a space to socialize with refreshements, learn English and join in workshops like art, sewing, and Zumba. The refugee crisis in the UK was incredibly hard to manage and it made me even more determined as an individual to fight for equal rights for all as we are far from it.

I have also worked as an employment and resettlement worker in Thames reach London, a homeless charity based in the city. Thames Reach’s mission is to help people who are homeless or vulnerable to find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. I Set up and ran a series of art classes, a newsgroup and tutored an 8 week training programme in employment skills from assertiveness to professionalism. I was proud to be the equality and diversity team representative and a member of digital inclusion panel for arts, film and literacy for elderly. This was my first job in the field after volunteering for several years. It was my way in to a 10 year career and playing a part in supporting many hundreds of lives through homeless organisations.

Ending street homelessness