Creative Approaches for People with Experience of Rough Sleeping.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Creative Arts-Based Approaches in Supporting Individuals with Lived Experience of Rough Sleeping: Perspectives from Participants and Facilitators
IRAS ID
356904
Contact name
Lorna Farquharson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 24 days
Research summary
Rough sleeping has been shown to cause significant negative outcomes, including poorer physical and mental health (Sutton-Hamilton & Sanders, 2022), higher mortality rates (Office for National Statistics, 2022), and inequalities in relation to accessing healthcare (Burrows et al., 2016). Despite the clear need for this client group, stigma continues to remain high for this population and interventions often focus more on deficit as opposed to strengths.
Creative arts-based approaches involve using various art forms such as visual art, dance, and music to support individuals to express themselves and improve wellbeing, offering an opportunity to focus on individuals’ strengths. The use of creative arts-based approaches for people with lived experience of rough sleeping and homelessness has shown positive outcomes. These include feelings of empowerment and self-advocacy (Murphy & Alexander, 2020), improvement in mental health and wellbeing (Thomas et al., 2011), and a sense of community (Clover, 2011). Whilst research in this area shows positive outcomes for creative arts-based approaches, there is limited understanding surrounding the mechanisms that constitute these positive outcomes, alongside considerations of how such approaches can be utilised within healthcare services.
This study is seeking to explore the perceived benefits and challenges of creative art-based approaches in the context of rough sleeping, alongside the underlying mechanisms that can constitute positive change and how this can be implemented in the context of clinical psychology. Through individual semi-structured interviews, this study will obtain the perspectives of both individuals with a lived experience of rough sleeping, alongside staff members. Individuals will be recruited through an NHS organisation, and third sector organisations.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0643
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion