Scholarships awarded to homeless young people through Accumulate

Three scholarships to Ravensbourne’s Access to Higher Education course were recently announced as part of their partnership with youth homelessness charity, Accumulate.

Jahmel Anderson Hendricks and Lisalouise MacGregor who are both currently residing in London hostels, as well as Max Sita-Mbele from Freedom From Torture were awarded scholarships funded by Straight Forward Design, Brickworks London and Ruth Keetch, Ravensbourne Governor respectively.

Additionally, Patricia Webster from Evolve Housing and Zakaria Mayahi Manesh from the East London YMCA Hostel were also awarded places on the Access to Higher Education course.

The announcements were made at the opening of Accumulate’s ‘Displacement’ exhibition held at The Guardian in King’s Cross. The exhibition will run until Friday 15 June, celebrating the creative achievements of individuals living in hostels and temporary accommodation, who took part in Accumulate’s photography workshops this year. To date, six Accumulate participants have received places on Ravensbourne University London’s digital access courses, with a number progressing onto degree courses.

Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Lisalouise said: “After allowing the news to sink in I am so excited to start the course - I really can’t wait! I feel like it was meant to be. I was detoured from university due to homelessness in 2015 and since then I have faced many different battles. The Accumulate course alone has helped my mental health and confidence to get back to what it was.

“I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me. Everything is looking brighter in my eyes. I would like to thank everyone involved, from the students who helped out to the course leaders and even the people behind the scenes who have made all this possible and got me to a stage where I can see my work hanging in a gallery.”

Max Sita-Mbele added: “I have a talent I didn’t know about and now I’m able to go to university. I will really do my best. Thank you so much to Marice, Accumulate and to your staff, it was an amazing experience. This prize is a light through my window.”

Marice Cumber, Accumulate’s Director said: “Homelessness is a complicated and challenging issue and we don’t pretend to solve everyone’s problems by offering our course. But what we do do is provide a creative outlet, a structure to someone’s week, an opportunity to do something different and perhaps change their sense of perspective, help rebuild their self-esteem and sense of worth.”

You can see ‘Displacement’ at The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9GU until Friday 15 June.

Find out more about Accumulate on their website.