There’s something new, big, bold and true towering over the buses and passers-by on Oxford Road. Next time you pass by St Peter’s House, look up… the message is for you!
Our new campaign message, ‘You Are Enough’, accompanied by a giant graphic print by Manchester artist Micah Purnell, launches this week and will be explored throughout our programme of diverse events throughout 2018-19. From Death Café’s to yoga, bee-keeping to baking, the theme ‘You Are Enough’ will run through our work – constantly reinforcing this message to challenge the pressures and expectations faced each day.
“Every day we encounter people from all walks of life who feel that they can never be enough,” says Hannah, Director of Development at St Peter’s House. “The expectation to do more, be more, achieve more is everywhere – nowhere more so than in our academic context, but also wider across all parts of society. ‘You Are Enough’ is about saying ‘No – you are enough, you already are, and nothing you can do will make you more ‘enough’”.
For artist and graphic designer Micah, the phrase resonates with his long-held concern to tackle anxiety and low self-worth caused by consumerism and advertising. “Consumerism wraps things up in neat little packages and sells them as idealised gifts of perfection. Advertising props up this notion with the assumption that the public are inadequate – stealing your love of yourself, and selling it back at a price,” he writes of the ‘You Are Enough’ campaign.
‘You Are Enough’ also has a strong faith grounding at St Peter’s House. “As people of faith, we believe that all people have immeasurable worth,” Adam, SPH chaplain explains. “We believe that all people are already ‘enough’ – regardless of what they do or achieve.” This message is becoming increasingly crucial as levels of anxiety and poor mental health continue to rise.
At St Peter’s House we hope to use ‘You Are Enough’ to raise a loud, bold and very visible challenge to messages that say otherwise around us. Pass by and look up… you can’t miss the message!
