On Friday Cardboard Citizens celebrated 25 years of making life-changing work with and for homeless people at its biennial fundraising dinner hosted by Kate Winslet. During the gala the charity also announced that Olivier Award-winning actor Rory Kinnear would be a new Ambassador for the charity
Every year Cardboard Citizens reaches thousands of people with experience of homelessness through theatre, performed by and to homeless and marginalised people in hostels, prisons, community centres and theatres.
Rory said: “I am honoured to be an Ambassador for Cardboard Citizens, an unusual charity which uses theatre in multiple ways to help homeless and ex-homeless people move forwards with their lives. This year the company is celebrating its 25th birthday, by doing the same things it has done for the past 25 years: offering support to homeless people, using theatre to help people get stronger and more confident, training and employing people as actors, and mounting productions which encourage wider debate about homelessness, its causes and its cures.
I have always believed in the transformative power of the arts and to have seen first-hand how effectively Cardboard Citizens use theatre and creative participation to engage, educate and empower those affected by homelessness is truly humbling.”
Speaking about her involvement with Cardboard Citizens, Ambassador Kate Winslet said: “Over the past 10 years I’ve watched Cardboard Citizens go from strength to strength. I’ve also seen first-hand the effect that fundraising events like this have had for the charity – from helping to secure a new fit for purpose home, where Members can feel safe and part of a positive community, to enabling the organisation to work nationally, reaching more homeless people than ever before and exploring the issues that these people face across the UK.
“This year is particularly special as Cardboard Citizens celebrates 25 years of changing lives and challenging perceptions around homelessness. Let’s come together to ensure the organisation continues to thrive for at least another 25 years.”
Find out more about the work of Cardboard Citizens at CardboardCitizens.org.uk