A London charity has opened a photographic exhibition to raise money for homeless women and those facing crisis.
Hosted by the Marylebone Project, the exhibition, Are You Next to an Angel?, features striking photographs of staff members wearing enormous angel wings on the streets of London and Brighton.
Award-winning photographer and Marylebone Project ambassador, Honey J Walker, used the exhibition to draw attention to the often-overlooked issue of homelessness among women.
Walker said: “My work addresses the fact that we don’t see what is around us anymore.
“When I was doing the shoot, something that was really impactful was that 98% of people did not notice that someone next to them was wearing the most enormous angel wings.
“They were oblivious, looking down on their phones, in their bubble of technology.
“They were not engaging with the rest of the world.”
The Are You Next to an Angel? exhibition aims to not only raise funds for women who find themselves in these desperate situations, but also seeks to challenge the indifference surrounding those issues.
Recent data and reports suggest that homeless women are often invisible and left with inadequate support.
The dramatic contrast between the staff members’ angel wings and the public’s indifference during the shoot mirrors the broader societal issue of homeless women being overlooked.
The exhibition aims to challenge societal stigma and inspire people to reflect on their inattention to those in need.
Walker said: “I really want people to think more about looking up and embracing what’s around them.
“If we all engaged more, looked up, and interacted with each other, imagine how much more kindness and connection we could create.”
The Marylebone Project provides life-changing services for homeless women, aiming to offer targeted support and a cohesive plan for women to reclaim happy, independent lives.
The charity focuses on providing education, employment opportunities, and support for both physical health and mental wellbeing.
The charity’s innovative Sanctuary service provides immediate access to advice and support without the need for a referral, offering a safe, woman-only space 24/7.
Marylebone Project staff shared their thoughts on the importance of the exhibition as part of their broader mission.
One member said: “The main goal is to empower women to make their own independent choices and to support them into independent living.”
The exhibition’s powerful images highlight not just the invisible struggles of homeless women but also the unseen angels who work tirelessly to help them.
The proceeds from the exhibition will directly support the Marylebone Project, which needs to raise £1.3million this year to fund The Sanctuary.
The exhibition is open to the public from 29 November to 6 December at 56-57 Eastcastle Street, London.
By attending, visitors not only support an important cause but also join in a movement to ensure these women and their supporters are seen, heard, and valued.
For more information on the Marylebone Project and to make a donation, click here.
Picture credit: Kasia Flisiuk
