How do you create a brand new start from being homeless? Richard, 21, is trying. He has been homeless since he was 16.

He has recently achieved a qualification with the organisation Brand New Start that he is really proud of.

He completed the Write Start creative writing project funded by Arts Council England and Oxford City Council’s Culture Fund.

This gave him the opportunity to voice his hopes, aspirations and resolutions for this year through rap. His work was showcased at an exhibition at Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley.

Richard, along with fellow temporary accommodation resident Elliot, will be presented with their Arts Award certificates at a celebration event later this month.

Brand New Start operates in east and central Oxford providing innovative creative training and development; a forum for the exchange of ideas, opinions, expertise and resources; opportunities for empowerment and progression; and a consultancy to create social enterprises.

It works with socially excluded young people to deliver opportunities for creative expression and progression with an emphasis on celebrating and showcasing achievement.

Brand New Start director, Lucy Mangua said: “It is amazing how creativity can thrive in such depressing circumstances. When most people think of Oxford they think of the University, the dreaming spires, the academic elite — not of the homeless.

Can you imagine being in ‘temporary’ accommodation for five years? Another participant we have worked with was on the streets and ‘sofa surfing’ for seven months before getting into temporary accommodation.” Former MTV presenter and journalist, Jasmine Dotiwala worked one-to-one with one participant to complete the Write Start project. She said she found him “full of hope, dreams and positivity”.

Other participants worked with songwriter and entrepreneur, Tony Biola who has run projects that have supported music acts such as JLS, Alexandra Burke and Leona Lewis in their early careers. He has been amazed by some of the participants’ stories and says he is glad for the “opportunity to make a difference”.

Brand New Start is launching S.T.A.R.T. (Supper Talk Airing Real Thoughts), its free dinner discussion forum for young people led by young people later this month and will be running further Arts Award projects over the summer.

Any young people wanting to take part or anyone interested in volunteering with the organisation can contact info@brandnewstart.org.uk