HANNAH NORTON

Stella was evicted from her house when she was in her late fifties, within minutes she became homeless, and would remain so for the next thirteen years. In the weeks following her eviction she was passed around different shelters, before being put into a hostel where she remained until a few months ago. Stella was miserable in the hostel, she relentlessly pursued her freedom, and this year, through consistently advocating for herself, someone heard about her situation who was able to help.

Stella was someone I saw every week, but this image I took of her was the first time she wanted her photo taken, about six months into the project. The week before, Stella had been moved out of the hostel and into her own flat.

We are sitting in her new place, looking at the photos I have taken of her. I ask Stella what she wants people to take away from seeing her image.

‘What I really want people to take away is, just be yourself, be truthful, have a mind of helping others, have a mind of sharing whatever you have with others. Whatever you still have, you can still give other people life, even though you are thinking to yourself that you don’t have life at that moment. Know that there is a way out. Know that whatever you are doing, if you are not successful, if it doesn’t come the way you want it, just have in mind that one day everything is going to take shape. Be positive, be determined, persevere, persist, do not give up. Don't give up. That is the message: don't give up.’

The first time I met Insaf outside of The Cook Up was at the park. She had some cucumbers with her that her friend had grown and given to her. Insaf insisted on giving me the cucumbers, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I really tried. Insaf is a regular at The Cook Up and she always brings me little bits of food; she cares so deeply for people. She smiles at every baby and smells every flower, it is a joy to be in her company.

Insaf had to suddenly leave her home during lockdown after experiencing domestic violence. She is currently homeless and staying in the same hostel Stella was just moved from. Her health has suffered hugely since being moved there two years ago; her body can’t tolerate the food that is given out and she has no access to a kitchen. She struggles with stomach pains and has lost five teeth, unable to access funds for dental care. It isn’t just the food, the environment also causes her a great deal of stress.

We now sit in that same park at a park bench, prints all over the table that keep getting blown off.

‘I am happy you showed me my picture, I would like you to take more photos, I haven't got pictures you see, in my life I have no pictures.’

Darren was one of the first friends I met at The Community Cook Up. He is there every week and is usually the first to arrive. He has that special ability to make you feel at ease. He’ll ask you a million questions and cares about every answer that you give. I cherish my conversations with Darren, the wisdom he offers has a calming effect on me. If anyone is sitting by themselves at Cook Up he’ll sit down next to them and strike up a conversation. There was an elderly lady who used to come, Darren and her couldn’t speak the same language, but every week he would spend time with her and talk.

I meet Darren outside his house and we make our way over to our usual spot in the park. Darren tells me in his warm Geordie accent that he’s been going to The Cook Up for ‘a few year’. He says he goes every week because, ‘I just like doing summt, giving something back y'know. I think that the world would be a better place if people just did that just one time y'know or even half a time even, or even told someone.’

Ronke lives in a flat owned by a housing association, she’s been here for 9 years and is deeply unhappy. She relentlessly gets in touch with different people and authorities, hoping they will be the one that can help her, but after endless false starts, she now feels helpless.

I’m sitting with Ronke in her flat, with a few different portraits of her printed out, I ask her which one she thinks we should use.

‘I think that one tells more of a story, it shows that the person is sad. She's got her Bible and notebook, it shows that she's trying to keep occupied to keep going. And the person is also thinking, what can she do to make things better in her life?’

As I sit and talk with Ellz in her kitchen, Rose is standing behind me on the sofa, enthusiastically doing my hair, using a playing card as a brush. I talk with Ellz about The Cook Up, the pandemic was the first time she used a food bank.

‘I started struggling through lockdown with my bills and housing conditions, and with counsellors not listening to me when repairs were needed in the house. I’ve ended up spending more on fixing things and on gas and electric.’

‘We’re just going through a little struggle right now. And for me, I go to the food bank for the sake of my child. Food and gas prices are going up, so this allows me just to have a bit more in my house to be able to feed her, because Universal Credit is only giving me a certain amount. Everyone struggles, we all have our little moments where we need help’

‘When people look at this picture, I want them to remember to enjoy every moment you can, especially with the ones you love’.