I joined the Streetwise Opera team in August 2021. Over the last year and seven months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many talented participants across London, Manchester and Nottingham through weekly sessions and performances, hearing their stories and their experiences of homelessness. Through my time here, I’ve seen first-hand the joy and the impact that Streetwise Opera’s work has, seeing performers grow and flourish through weekly sessions and projects.

I’ve always had a strong passion for the arts, knowing the transformative power they can have. I believe that the arts and creativity should be accessible to all and not restricted to the privileged few, which is why I decided to walk 26 miles to raise money for Streetwise Opera.

Streetwise Opera has taught me a lot about the complexities around homelessness and common misconceptions associated with why and how someone might be rough sleeping or unhoused. I’ve always admired Streetwise Opera’s ability to recognise that someone recovering from homelessness needs more than a roof and a bed, and, through their work, to demonstrate the ability of creativity to empower and change lives.

So when we were approached to take part in London Homeless Collective’s London Walk, I wanted to challenge myself whilst raising money for a cause I felt passionate about. I have always wanted to take part in a marathon, but since I can barely run for a bus or tube, this event felt like a fantastic opportunity to complete a goal and support people affected by homelessness.

The London Walk is an overnight walking challenge through the streets of London. Walking through the streets at night offers an opportunity to reflect on the experience of homeless people in London, not only those who are forced to sleep on the streets, but also those who walk through the night, spending nights on public transport in order to stay awake and safe.

On a rather chilly Friday 10 March, our team of three (consisting of General Manager Jessica Reddel, trustee Colin Jones and myself) set off on a 26-mile walk through London. We passed many iconic London landmarks and locations such as St Paul’s Cathedral, The London Eye, Camden Market and Royal Albert Hall.

One of my favourite parts of the walk was watching the faces of many perplexed strangers, very confused by a convoy of people dressed in hiking gear traipsing through Leicester Square and Camden, having an extremely different type of night out. Another highlight towards the end was walking past Big Ben and hearing it chime for the first time in years after its refurbishment, whilst we had the rare opportunity of walking the usually packed Thames alone.

While on the walk, we would pass people who were rough sleeping. It served as a stark reminder of why we were taking part in this challenge and the need to support people affected by homelessness in London.

We completed the marathon by 6.30am on Saturday morning, taking around 9 hours and 30 minutes. As a team, we were delighted to have raised a total of £3,304 to continue the important work of Streetwise Opera and support those recovering from homelessness.

I want to thank everyone who donated to our pages, who sent kind words and well wishes. It was greatly appreciated and we were so touched by the kindness we received.

If you’re interested in fundraising for Streetwise Opera I’d love to hear from you – you can reach me at evangeline.fordham@streetwiseopera.org and I’ll be happy to chat. Just don’t ask me to walk another marathon!