Computing students collaborate with Porchlight on homelessness awareness project

Computing students applied their digital, creative and research skills last term, as they took on a project in partnership with Porchlight, a charity who supports those affected by homelessness in the South East.

Working to a brief set by the charity, learners designed digital solutions to raise awareness of homelessness, focusing on younger audiences.

Over several weeks, they produced a range of ideas including apps, websites and interactive games, supported throughout the process by Porchlight representatives.

As part of their task, they also explored the realities of homelessness and used their research to shape digital designs with a clear purpose and the young audience in mind.

At the end of the project, each group had the opportunity to present their final outcome to a panel, setting out their thinking, how their research informed decisions, and how their designs communicated complex issues clearly.

Patrick, a member of Porchlight’s Board of Trustees, was in person during the final pitches, to assess the impact of the students’ digital platforms in raising awareness and reaching new audiences.

There was also the chance for Q&A after each presentation, giving students the opportunity to respond to feedback and reflect on their work.

One of the projects was ‘Invisible’, an interactive game created by Keanu, Aironas, Owen and Lucas. Named the overall winner during the pitches, the game follows the story of a young person at risk of homelessness, with players making decisions that shape how the experience unfolds.

Each choice is tracked across four themes: empathy, courage, awareness and action, leading to different outcomes and moments designed to prompt discussion, particularly in classroom settings.

Daniel, Veronika, Lukas, Naomi and Cameron were named runners-up, with their website programme recognised for its strong creative approach and clear understanding of audience.

Tony Ballard, Industry Liaison Officer for Computing, said about this project: “It’s been brilliant working with Porchlight on this. The students have really taken the brief on board and shown a strong understanding of the issues involved, which has come through clearly in the work they’ve produced.

“You can also see how much they’ve grown through the process, in both their confidence and the way they’ve approached their ideas.”

On our Computing courses, projects like this throughout the year build students’ confidence in presenting, problem solving and responding to feedback, but are also a strong way to develop their technical skills.

Explore our Computing courses today and start your development this September.