Artwork produced by learners from a Newton Aycliffe specialist college will help raise awareness of mate crime as part of a national campaign.
Young autistic people at Thornbeck College, run by the North East Autism Society, took part in the volunteer led arts project ‘From All Walks of Life’, which aims to highlight how anyone can be affected by exploitation and grooming.
The project links to a campaign by Fiona Laskaris, who wants a change in the law which will allow families to request mental capacity assessments for loved ones.
Fiona began the campaign after her autistic son Christopher was murdered by a convicted criminal who exploited him in his own home.
Fiona said: “Nothing can bring back my lovely Christopher, but I want to do everything I can to raise awareness of the importance of listening to families’ concerns for their vulnerable adult children. Assessing capacity properly will protect the other Christopher’s out there and ensure they can live safe and fulfilled lives.”
The volunteer leading the session, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “So many people need these assessments, and they’re not carried out as often as they should be.”
The project hopes to create hundreds of artworks by working with groups across the country, with a theme of footwear facing right across a square of card, representing unity from across a range of backgrounds.
These artworks will then be brought together and exhibited around the UK.
Learners at Thornbeck College used mixed media, paint, glitter, and craft materials to create their art, taking inspiration from the style of Mackenzie Thorpe, the renowned Middlesbrough artist and North East Autism Society patron.
The volunteer said: “It’s a fun project, but it represents a very serious campaign. From All Walks of Life, as the saying goes, means that it’s people of all ages, men, women, they can all be affected by mate crime,” They added.
Mate crime is a specific form of exploitation, where the perpetrator falsely befriends a victim in order to abuse or take advantage of them.
“Walking in the same direction shows unity, people coming together, shared experiences and a shared journey as well.”
Fay Strong, Principal at Thornbeck College, said: “We were very pleased to hold the ‘From All Walks of Life’ workshop at Thornbeck College. This project gave our learners the opportunity to contribute to a wider conversation and share an important message beyond the college, while engaging with important issues like disability hate crime, mate crime, and the need to support vulnerable people.”