Sheffield student in line for award for writing project with city's homeless

A former homeless man who set up a creative writing project for those on the streets has been nominated for an award.

Liam Rodgers, who is studying creative writing at Sheffield Hallam University, founded UpScribe to help the homeless, ex-offenders and people from other marginalised groups, including refugees, to express themselves through creative writing.

The second year creating writing student is one of six shortlisted for the prestigious Student Volunteer of the Year award from a pool of 100 nominees.

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Last year homeless people who use the Cathedral Archer Project in Sheffield, which provides a breakfast, help and support, poetry, had their short stories, poetry and life accounts published in a book as part of the writing project he runs.

He said: “Being nominated for this national award is really testament to how supportive Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union have been.

“Every step of the way, numerous staff have supported UpScribe with funding, training and hands-on help, even coming to the book launch and buying copies of the first book.

“I am thrilled to be getting more exposure for the work of UpScribe, hoping it will attract more clients so we can do even more positive work in the future.

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“I’m just as passionate about community work as I am about my own writing and career aspirations. If I couldn’t use my degree to help other people access literature and writing then it wouldn’t have been worth doing. I want to share the knowledge.”

The winner is to be announced today ay an event in London to coincide with the start of Student Volunteering Week.

They will win a £1,000 to donate to a cause of their choice.