Shelter's powerful billboards reinforce what it means to be homeless at Christmas

AMV BBDO created pro bono campaign for the UK charity

Published On
Dec 21, 2022
Bus stop adorned with Christmas lights and text that reads, "This is no place to spend Christmas"

Editor's Pick

As Christmas Day approaches and temperatures drop in the U.K., a powerful outdoor campaign by homeless charity Shelter is reinforcing what it means to be homeless for the holidays.

The starkly shot images juxtapose holiday traditions with the plight of people who have to sleep outside in freezing temperatures and in unsafe temporary accommodation. One billboard features a a tent festooned with Christmas lights pitched under a gloomy bridge at night time; another shows an isolated, fairy light-strewn bus shelter housing someone’s blanket; there's also a festively-decorated park bench and a fairy-lit back seat of a car, both of which double as rough sleepers’ beds for the night, together with the line: “This is no place to spend Christmas."

The campaign was created pro bono by AMV BBDO and supported by Posterscope and MG OMD.

Earlier in the holiday period, Shelter launched a TV ad by Don't Panic London that showed what the holidays are like for a child living with his mother in temporary accommodation. 

“It’s truly shocking that so many thousands of people in England are currently homeless or facing homelessness, especially as the temperatures plummet and we approach Christmas," said Shelter CEO Polly Neate, in a statement. "This campaign is a stark illustration of homelessness and I hope everyone who see it is encouraged to join Shelter in our fight against the housing emergency."

Credits

Date
Dec 21, 2022
Client :
Shelter
Agency :
AMV BBDO
Head of Acquisition :
Claire Whitney
Senior Brand Manager :
Nick Martin
Senior Designer :
Hollie Joyce
CCO :
Nadja Lossgott
CCO :
Nicholas Hulley
Creative Team :
Laurens Grainger
Creative Team :
Alicia Cliffe
Agency Account Team :
Laura Balfour
Agency Producer :
Rhiannon Nicol
Agency Designer :
Mario Kerkstra
Media Agency :
MG OMD
Production Company :
Still Productions
Photographer :
Simon Winnall
DOP :
Louis Mackay
Stylist :
Mim Quin-Harkin
Retoucher :
Massive Face

Need a credit fix? Contact the Creativity Editors

Industry
Project Type