Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that trains people who have been affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of the city centre. We are located in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, York, Cardiff and soon to be Liverpool.

This is an idea created from the wish to deal with real issues in our society, exploring ways to empower people by raising awareness and connection. The idea originates from Edinburgh, but is applicable and necessary in every city in the world. We can learn a whole new perspective as we learn about the city, its history and the people that make it.

The aim is twofold; firstly to breakdown the negative stereotypes that exist surrounding homelessness - be it alcoholics, criminals, drug addicts - we show that everyone is human, and has passions, interests, potential and above all a story to tell. Our message is about equality, that people living on the streets deserve the same opportunities and interactions as us, and instead of overlooking and ignoring them - what if we stopped; ask them what their name is and how their day has been. Allow them to feel human not invisible when all other sense of normality has been stripped from them.

Secondly, Invisible Cities aims to empower people who have experienced homelessness. Homelessness destroys people’s self-worth, their confidence is quite literally and physically on the floor. As said by one of our guides in Edinburgh, “When you are homeless you are invisible.” We are structured in a way so that there is huge focus and autonomy give to the PERSON, their tour is entirely their own creation. We just support them with making it a reality through training and research. For example, Manchester is a fantastic city with endless options, if our tour guide is interested in making his or her tour about cotton mills, football, LGBTQ rights, food, music, gardening - we will make it happen by working with them in a way that best matches their needs. Then tour guiding. The tours create a unique environment where people come together to listen and walk through the city as equals. A walk, just a walk, I was not even aware of the power and value of this idea until I watched it unfold before my eyes. On the tour people are more are inclined to open their eyes and ears just a little bit more - you know, to absorb as much as they can. This gives our guides a platform to have their story heard by an audience of 5 or 10 people with utmost care and respect. The beginning to the end of the tour, barriers are broken down, new things are learnt and friendships are cultivated. The impact this has on our tour guide’s self-confidence is extraordinary.

Homelessness, to many of us is a distant and dehumanised issue, despite seeing it every day it is so far removed from our every day. The majority of people don’t see it as an issue they will ever have to battle with.

We lack a culture of empathy, compassion and social cohesion. How do we encourage conversations that can be difficult and uncomfortable? How do we expect to see progress in society if we don’t include the voices of the most marginalised? How do we speak to people who have lives so vastly different to what we could ever conceptualise? How do we give people the dignity of human connection, a basic human need? How do I face up to the fact that every day when I go home, I close my front door and with this I close away the problem that 50 people died on the streets of Manchester last year. That’s the highest number of deaths recorded in the UK. How do we make these people visible not invisible?

Afterall, the United Kingdom's cities are amongst the richest and most affluent in the world, yet walk down any high street and what do you see? You don’t need me to stand here and tell you it’s a problem. It is shocking and horrifying. We see two worlds collide right before your very eyes. A flashy H&M, street buskers, prams, bags full of shopping... Look a little further and you see people curled up in sleeping bags on pieces of cardboard - utter devastation, people who have fallen through the “cracks of society”. Treated with no more respect or dignity than a mere ‘sorry I have no change’.

I don’t know about your normal route to work, but every morning I cut through town to get to the office, I am still taken aback. Take a moment and actually think about it, isn’t it absolutely bewildering. We walk past this problem every single day. We walk past the people who need human kindness and support more than ever!

Invisible Cities is, of course, an innovative solution to counteract the negative impacts of homelessness. Although, it must be noted, providing a platform to raise public awareness of homelessness and equipping people who have experienced homelessness with skills and income, does not address the cause. The cycle of homelessness will only be solved when society understands that homelessness is connected with neo-liberal capitalist policies and the breakdown of the welfare state that has neglected the urban poor and those excluded from the economy.

The next steps of Invisible Cities are to nurture the cities we currently exist in and to expand to other cities. In Manchester for example, they have started a monthly publication, produced and edited by our guides. They gather short stories, poems and pieces of art from the homeless community. The work is published and shared across the city for both people living on the streets and people who want to know more about homelessness.

In terms of our involvement with For Cities, we could deliver an online workshop detailing our work and introducing our tour guides.