Share the invisible struggle

Before you begin

• Don’t worry too much if you don’t have access to the internet. The videos we’ve included help explain the issue, but they’re not essential. You could always send the links to people so they can watch them at home, in the library, or at school.
• This is a great chance to use all of the arts and crafts materials you can get your hands on, including paint and scraps of card and fabric. The only limit is your imagination (and the amount of mess you want to make).

Understand the issue

1. The person leading the activity should explain that homelessness isn’t just about people sleeping on the streets. ‘Sofa-surfing’ is another type of homelessness where people sleep on friends’ (or even strangers’) sofas because they have nowhere else to go. People are often less aware of it because it’s hidden and invisible.
2. Everyone should guess how common sofa-surfing is. The person leading the activity should explain that sofa-surfing makes up a big proportion of people experiencing homelessness. For every person sleeping rough on the street, another 12 are stuck in night shelters, hostels, sofas, public transport, or other unsafe or unsecure accommodation.
3. The person leading the activity should explain that at the moment*, over 71,000 families and individuals across Great Britain sleep on the sofas and floors of friends and family.
4. Everyone should chat about the difficulties they think come with sofa-surfing. Someone should write all of the ideas down on big piece of paper.

You could also watch Karen’s story, Jack’s story and Amir’s story.

6. Everyone should look at the ‘Sofa-surfing information’ sheet to find out more. 

Depending on your group, it may work better for an adult to explain some of the information on the sheet.

7. Everyone should add anything new to the big piece of paper, including difficulties and statistics. Why do they think so many people are unaware of this type of homelessness?

*figures correct as of December 2019.

Create a display

1. Everyone should think about how they could creatively present everything they’ve learned about sofa-surfing so other people can learn too.

Now’s the time to get creative with all of the arts and crafts materials.

2. Everyone should work together to create an eye-catching and informative display. They may want to make sure it includes information about how common sofa-surfing is, as well as the effects and causes.

Spread the word

1. Everyone should decide where they’ll display their artwork. They could think about public spaces like parks, marketplaces, or libraries.

Make sure you have permission to display your artwork in whichever space you choose.

2. Everyone should set up their display where people will see it.
3. Everyone should explain their display to anyone who asks. They should tell they when they set it up.
4. Everyone should encourage people to think about whether local decision makers (for example, councillors or MPs) could do more to make people aware of sofa-surfing and prevent it.
5. Anyone who agreed that local decision makers should do more should write their name on the artwork (or a sign-up sheet).
6. After they’ve finished displaying their artwork, everyone should work together to write a letter to go with a photograph of copy of their artwork with everyone’s name on it. What do they want the decision maker to do?
7. It may take a while for the decision maker to reply. If they haven’t heard back within a few weeks, people may want to send a follow-up letter.
8. Will they write a pledge and take a photo with the group to share on social media?

This activity helps contribute towards some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about the SDGs, and how Scouts across the world are getting involved.