Britain's What's On Event Guide
Beds Talks: Making Sense of Street Activities
Join the University of Bedfordshire for a free interactive Beds Talks event – ‘Making Sense of Street Activities’ – presenting real accounts of life on the streets and putting your questions to a panel of experts.
Hosted by Dr Sarah Wadd (Principal Research Fellow), this event will showcase the research being undertaken by the University of Bedfordshire into ‘street activities’ such as street sex work, street drinking, public injecting and rough sleeping.
In towns and cities across the UK, concerns are mounting about ‘street activities’ such as ‘begging’, street sex work, street drinking, public injecting and rough sleeping. Strongly associated with addiction and homelessness, these are risky and demeaning activities. The street community are often exploited, trapped in poverty and relegated to the fringes of society.
But street activities can also have a detrimental impact on other members of the community in terms of feelings of personal safety, health and safety (human waste, discarded needles and condoms) and damage to trade and the reputation of the area. Street activities are higher in deprived neighbourhoods and, therefore, have a negative effect on our most vulnerable communities.
Researchers at the University of Bedfordshire have interviewed more than 90 people who are involved in street activities and over 50 professionals who work with them across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
At this very interactive event, we will present graphic accounts of life on the streets and put big questions to a panel of experts, such as ‘What should you do if someone asks you for money in the street?’
Come along and join us in a safe space to connect, pause and explore these complex issues. You will have a chance to share your own views and put questions to the panel.
Hosted by Dr Sarah Wadd (Principal Research Fellow), this event will showcase the research being undertaken by the University of Bedfordshire into ‘street activities’ such as street sex work, street drinking, public injecting and rough sleeping.
In towns and cities across the UK, concerns are mounting about ‘street activities’ such as ‘begging’, street sex work, street drinking, public injecting and rough sleeping. Strongly associated with addiction and homelessness, these are risky and demeaning activities. The street community are often exploited, trapped in poverty and relegated to the fringes of society.
But street activities can also have a detrimental impact on other members of the community in terms of feelings of personal safety, health and safety (human waste, discarded needles and condoms) and damage to trade and the reputation of the area. Street activities are higher in deprived neighbourhoods and, therefore, have a negative effect on our most vulnerable communities.
Researchers at the University of Bedfordshire have interviewed more than 90 people who are involved in street activities and over 50 professionals who work with them across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
At this very interactive event, we will present graphic accounts of life on the streets and put big questions to a panel of experts, such as ‘What should you do if someone asks you for money in the street?’
Come along and join us in a safe space to connect, pause and explore these complex issues. You will have a chance to share your own views and put questions to the panel.
Tickets are free. Event begins at 6pm.
G101 Lecture Theatre, University of Bedfordshire Luton Campus
University Square
Luton
Bedfordshire LU1 3JU
Wed 6 March