ART is being used as a way of helping the homeless in Oxford get back on their feet.

Flow, a joint project between Arts at the Old Fire Station in George Street and homeless charity Crisis Skylight Oxford, is using the River Thames as inspiration for artwork to be created by the city’s homeless in pop-up street workshops.

The £11,000 project that began last week is being funded by Oxford City Council.

Organisers have commissioned professional artists Mary Branson and Jono Retallick to lead sessions over the summer.

Director of Arts at the Old Fire Station, Jeremy Spafford, said: “The project is not about solving homelessness.

“Its about getting people to redefine themselves as artists and giving them something to focus on in the hope it will develop their confidence.

“At the same time, it’s about professional artists learning to work with vulnerable people.”

It is hoped that the project will move to the Old Fire Station in August where further workshops will take place.

A new steel sculpture using the homeless people’s designs will be created by the professional artists and permanently installed in the building in September.

Mr Retallick, 39, from Farnham, Surrey, said: “I’m excited about it because I’ve done a lot of work in community engagement before.

“The project is all about giving skills they didn’t think they had.”

The theme of the project is based on the idea of people completing a journey like the motion of water.

Mr Retallick said: “Flow also means being completely engrossed in something. If we can give people some relief from the difficult situations they are in through art, that’s a good thing.”

Oxford City Outreach is also helping Arts at the Old Fire Station and Crisis Skylight Oxford find people who may be interested in the project.

Crisis Skylight Oxford director Kate Cocker said: “We know art can be incredibly effective in helping people begin to break the cycle of homelessness.

“Painting or sculpting can be a rare chance for self-expression, to get involved in a social activity and begin rebuilding confidence shattered by the awful experience of sleeping rough.”