Homeless no longer Invisible

CITY TOUR PROJECT GIVES HOPE TO THOSE IN NEED

- BY ROS WYNNE-JONES AND CLAIRE DONNELLY

IT'S a city of famous landmarks, from the stunning Central Library to the neo-gothic Town Hall, Old Trafford to the Etihad, the Chinatown archway to the rising skyscrapers of "Manc-hattan". But even if you own an original 1989 bucket hat, Manchester tour guide Andy has something to show you.

From tales about the city's quirky Tommy Ducks pub - where bras and knickers were once pinned to the ceiling, and glass-topped coffins were used as tables - or to hear what happened when celebrity medium Derek Acorah encountered spirits as lairy as the Gallagher brothers, Andy is your guide.

Like all the tour guides who work for Invisible Cities in Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, York, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Liverpool and have been affected by homelessness, Andy has a unique perspective of the city he lives in - shaped by his experience of living in a garage.

"I had a group of nurses over from Massachusetts last week," Andy says, as he takes another tour through secret passageways and hidden cut-throughs. "I was able to show them the oldest and best pubs in Manchester and a bit about how people live."

Founded in 2016, Invisible Cities aims to "challenge perceptions of homelessness and provide meaningful opportunities for people to share their experiences and knowledge through unique walking tours".

Over the last few weeks, the Oasis faithful have been led by fellow fan Nic on a "Wonderwalk" through the city that inspired anthems like Don't Look Back In Anger, visiting spots such as the Free Trade Hall, Microdot, and Afflecks Palace.

In Glasgow, tourists get to see the streets from the perspective of people like Brian who spent 30 years fighting addiction and homelessness before rebuilding his life.