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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I was forced onto streets after marriage split but now have unique job'
Invisible Cities offers tours run by people who have experienced homelessness. For dad-of-two Andy it's been life-changing – and his clients love it too. 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 in Greater Manchester. Meanwhile Gordon Brown blasts the return of 'poverty of 60 years ago' as he makes one big demand. READ MORE: 'I lost my husband, now I've only got 12 months to live' "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. Hopefully they experienced something really different." 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 iconic 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 battling addictions and homelessness before rebuilding his life. In Aberdeen, mum-of-three Michelle leads tourists into The Silver City's Shadows where people like her struggle to find a safe home. In York, Miles – a former banker who found his life turned upside down by addiction and homelessness – peels away the layers of local history. These are just some of 158 trained guides, covering tours from 'The Real Women of Edinburgh' to 'York's Railway Heritage' to a poetry and protest tour of Cardiff that ends at the feet of the founder of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan. Invisible Cities' founder, Zakia Moulaoui Guery, set up the project after experiencing something similar on a trip to Athens. "I wanted to bring homelessness out of the shadows," she says. "Our goal is simple: to replace stigma with understanding, and stereotypes with human connection." For Andy it's been life-changing. "It's given me purpose, a future, at a time when everything seemed to have gone," he says. Andy is happy to share his own story with the people he guides around the city too. In 2014, his marriage ended, forcing him to leave the social housing he'd shared for a decade with his ex-wife and two children. He'd been a full-time carer for his son who has cerebral palsy so hadn't been in paid employment for a while, making it even harder to start again. Deemed a low priority for council help – he was told he faced a wait of five years to be housed – he suddenly found himself homeless. "You don't think it can happen to you," he says, shaking his head, "Not at 47. I'd had a family and a stable home then suddenly it all went. I literally had nowhere to go, I was facing having to sleep on the streets, I didn't know if I could hack it, but what else could I do?" Someone from Andy's church in Wigan, Lancs, offered him a place to sleep – in their garage. "I thought it would be for a week or so, while I looked for a private rented property," he says, "But with all the paperwork it took three months. I was stuck in a catch 22, the benefits people said I needed an address to get Job Seekers' Allowance and to have it paid into a bank, but I didn't have an address. "They told me to keep quiet about being homeless if I went for an interview, I didn't know how that would work…" While flat and job hunting, Andy threw himself into volunteering. A placement at the Manchester Museum saw him start to find himself again. He learned fast, working with the public and in other museums. When he heard about Invisible Cities, he felt confident enough to sign up. "I decided to give it a go," he explains, "I was nervous but when you're on your a**e you realise you've got nothing to lose." Andy used lockdown to prepare his tour and joined the team in 2021. Now he gives three or four tours a month. "I realised I had knowledge I could share, of the city centre, of its history and pubs and like the other guides, of my own life," he says. "It feels more important than ever to do that. Until you've experienced homelessness it's hard to understand how isolated you feel. "But no-one is immune. Things like bereavement, being switched to Universal Credit, relationships not working, it happens. When I got my own place and put the key in the door, that feeling of safety came back. Most of the time homelessness is invisible, people are sofa surfing, or staying in these hotels or B&Bs. You feel left out of society. This is about showing we're human, we're still here, it can happen to anyone." Invisible Cities isn't just for tourists, but for locals too. Manchester is the Mirror's Claire Donnelly's home city but she says Andy opened her eyes to new parts of the city and gave her a different vantage point from which to view a place she's known all her life. Andy, she says, had her laughing out loud with some of his stories. "He's fun, easy company with a great line in unusual local history, including the lady drinkers pinning their knickers to the wall," she says. "Manchester is my home city but thanks to Andy I've noticed things that have previously passed me by. Tiny, tucked away pubs, historical monuments, secret tunnels – including one from a church altar to a pub down the road – and some of the quiet spaces homeless people use." The Tommy Ducks pub is now a Premier Inn, but in St Ann's Square, a place Claire says she passes through all the time, Andy points out a striking artwork – 'Jesus the Homeless,' a bronze depiction of Christ as a homeless man, sleeping on a bench. "It's one of several dotted across the world, but I must have walked by here thousands of times without noticing it," Claire says. Andy smiles. "And that's why we do this," he says, "To show you all the things people never see. And to show that anyone – including people who have been homeless – are capable of doing anything, of contributing."
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Award-winning restaurant stars in free Glasgow walking tour
Rickshaw & Co., an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in the West End, will be the starting point for the Stories Behind Glasgow's Hospitality Scene tours, part of the city's 850th anniversary celebrations. The walking tours, curated by social enterprise Invisible Cities, highlight Glasgow's hospitality venues and the people behind them. Read more: Event to explore the history of one of Scotland's largest steelworks Rickshaw & Co. has quickly become a Glasgow staple known for its colourful interior, recycled rickshaw canopies, and bicycle-wheel light fittings. The restaurant, founded by Gulshan Soni, Krishna Devkota, and Tushar Ahmed, is inspired by the street food traditions of India and Bangladesh. Its menu, built around the founders' childhood favourites, features slow-cooked curries, tandoori grills, tiffin boxes, and roadside-style plates, as well as vegan options that are just as flavourful. Tushar Ahmed, co-founder of Rickshaw & Co., said: "This tour is a great way to share our story. "Rickshaw & Co. is about food, community and feeling at home - and that's what Glasgow means to us." Tours are scheduled from Wednesday, June 4, Saturday, June 7, Wednesday, June 11, Saturday, June 14, Wednesday, June 18, and Saturday, June 21. Tours begin at 1pm outside Rickshaw & Co. at 9 Partick Bridge Street and end behind Kelvingrove Museum. They are free to attend and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces can be booked online at Read more: Hundreds take on Glasgow's giant Kylie Minogue-themed game The walking tour series is part of Glasgow City Council's Taste the Place campaign, offering visitors a chance to explore the people, stories, and influences that have shaped Glasgow's hospitality scene. Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that trains people who have experienced homelessness or social disadvantage to become walking tour guides.
Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Glasgow's Food Stories in June: Saturday charity walking tours start at Rickshaw & Co
Award-winning Rickshaw & Co., the vibrant Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Glasgow's West End, is proud to be featured in Stories Behind Glasgow's Hospitality, part of the city's 850th anniversary celebrations in collaboration with Invisible Cities, a social enterprise that trains people who've experienced homelessness or social disadvantage to become walking tour guides of their own cities. Their personal, powerful tours show a different side of Glasgow and beyond. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Located on Partick Bridge Street, Rickshaw & Co. has fast become a local and national favourite, known for bold, flavour-packed dishes, a warm welcome, and an interior filled with colour and character—from recycled rickshaw canopies to bicycle-wheel light fittings. Founded by Gulshan Soni, Krishna Devkota, and Tushar Ahmed, Rickshaw & Co. is rooted in the street food traditions of India and Bangladesh. The menu is built on the co-founders' childhoods, family kitchens, and travels—offering everything from slow-cooked dhaba-style curries and tandoori grills to tiffin boxes and roadside plates. Vegan options are just as thoughtful and flavourful. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Now, as part of Glasgow City Council's Taste the Place campaign, Rickshaw & Co. will take centre stage in a special storytelling walking tour series delivered by social enterprise Invisible Cities. Invisible Cities These tours highlight some of Glasgow's best hospitality venues and the stories behind them. Rickshaw & Co. will be the starting point for the Stories Behind Glasgow's Hospitality Scene walking tour, which shares the restaurant's story and the people behind it. This is a storytelling tour only—there will be no food tasting or access to the venue. Guests are encouraged to return afterwards to enjoy the food and experience what Rickshaw & Co. is all about. 'This tour is a great way to share our story. Rickshaw & Co. is about food, community and feeling at home—and that's what Glasgow means to us.'— Tushar Ahmed, Co-founder, Rickshaw & Co. The tours are a celebration of Glasgow's rich cultural heritage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the city marks 850 years of history, this is a unique opportunity to explore the people, stories and influences that have shaped its vibrant culinary scene. Through the lens of hospitality, visitors can get to know the character of Glasgow—not just through its landmarks, but through the individuals and communities who give the city its warmth and identity. Rickshaw & Co. The tours will take place on Wednesday 11 June, Saturday 14 June, Wednesday 18 June and Saturday 21 June. Each tour starts at 1pm outside Rickshaw & Co. at 9 Partick Bridge Street and finishes behind Kelvingrove Museum. Attendance is free and open to all on a first come, first served basis. To book a free space, visit:
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
William makes special visit to first resident helped by homeless charity
The Prince of Wales abandoned his car for a walking tour of Aberdeen with a homeless-friendly employer now working in the William scrapped plans to be driven between events and opted for a 30-minute walk through the city led by Angus Stirling, who was once homeless. Mr Stirling now has a job as a guide with "Invisible Cities" offering city tours across the UK guided by people who have been is one of six locations that make up the Prince's Homewards project along with Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Sheffield and the Bournemouth has the target of ending homelessness at those six locations by 2028 - "making it rare, brief and unrepeated". Joined by Homewards supporters - TV presenter Gail Porter and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett - the trip to Aberdeen marks a significant moment for Prince William as he visited the home of the first resident to be housed by the properties in Aberdeen have been made available to those at risk of homelessness as part of a scheme to bring empty homes back into use more royal-backed project has been working with local and national businesses to provide furniture and fittings for the homes from businesses including IKEA, Dunelm and the DFS Group."Through this initiative, we are not only providing safe and secure homes but also fostering a supportive environment," said Judith Sutherland, who is Director of Housing at the Langstane House Association in Homewards plans include social housing being built on part of the Duchy of Cornwall Estate."Our focus is always on impact. What you're seeing today is Homewards moving into its delivery phase," a Kensington Palace spokesperson told the BBC, adding the prince "remains laser focused" on showing "that it is possible to end homelessness".William began his day in Scotland by launching a new partnership between his homelessness project and the global recruitment firm, Hays, which will try to find jobs for some at risk of to a group of young people, he heard how some had been looking for work for up to two prince told them: "I think things are pretty demoralising having waited so long and keep getting rejected, that's going to get you down."The homelessness campaign is a major long-term focus for William, who has spoken of how visiting shelters with his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was a child left a deep and lasting impression and inspired his work.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
William goes on walking tour with firm supporting his homelessness project
The Prince of Wales went on a walking tour of Aberdeen with a homeless-friendly employer now working in the city. William's Homewards project, which aims to eradicate homelessness in all its forms, is supporting Invisible Cities Aberdeen, a social enterprise offering walking city tours across the UK guided by people who have experienced homelessness. The future king spent around 30 minutes on the streets of Aberdeen, affectionately known as the Granite City, as he walked from a reception with young people starting on the employment ladder to an event celebrating the work of Invisible Cities. William began his day in Scotland by launching a partnership between his homelessness project and a major recruitment firm to provide employment opportunities for those without a permanent home. Hays, a global recruitment firm, has become an official supporter of the prince's Homewards project, which is working in six locations across the UK. Hays has committed to supporting Homewards by securing commitments for employment opportunities within the firm. The prince, also known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, joined a group of young people in a workshop discussing Project Flourish, a youth employability programme, created by Hays and EveryYouth – a national youth charity for those who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. William sat at a table and discussed job prospects with young people, and after some told him they had been looking for work for up to two years, the prince replied: 'I think things are pretty demoralising having waited so long and keep getting rejected, that's going to get you down.' He arrived at Trinity Hall on Holburn Street on foot around half-an-hour later, where people in cafes and hairdressers came out to catch a glimpse of him as he made his way into the hall. In an upstairs chamber William met a group of people who had just completed their training with Invisible Cities to give guided tours similar to the one he had just been on.
