(Image: Supplied)
Artwork created by learners at a Newton Aycliffe specialist college will help shine a light on the dangers of mate crime and exploitation as part of a national awareness campaign.
The pieces were produced by autistic young people at Thornbeck College, which is run by the North East Autism Society, as part of the volunteer-led arts project From All Walks of Life.
The project raises awareness of exploitation and grooming and supports a campaign led by Fiona Laskaris, who is calling for a change in the law to allow families to request mental capacity assessments for vulnerable loved ones.
Thornbeck College students raised awareness of exploitation through their artwork (Image: Supplied)
Ms Laskaris began campaigning after her autistic son, Christopher, was murdered by a convicted criminal who exploited him in his own home.
She said: "Nothing can bring back my lovely Christopher, but I want to do everything I can to raise awareness of the importance of listening to families’ concerns for their vulnerable adult children.
"Assessing capacity properly will protect the other Christophers out there and ensure they can live safe and fulfilled lives."
Thornbeck College learners used art to highlight the dangers of mate crime and exploitation. (Image: Supplied)
A volunteer who led the art session at Thornbeck College, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "So many people need these assessments, and they’re not carried out as often as they should be.
"It’s a fun project, but it represents a very serious campaign.
"From All Walks of Life, as the saying goes, means that it’s people of all ages, men, women, they can all be affected by mate crime.
Thornbeck College students raised awareness of exploitation through their artwork (Image: Supplied)
"Walking in the same direction shows unity, people coming together, shared experiences and a shared journey as well."
The project aims to produce hundreds of artworks from groups across the UK.
Each piece will feature footwear facing right, created on a square of card representing unity from across a range of backgrounds.
Learners created colourful designs to support vulnerable people (Image: Supplied)
Thornbeck College students raised awareness of exploitation through their artwork (Image: Supplied)
Learners created colourful designs to support vulnerable people (Image: Supplied)
Thornbeck College learners used mixed media, paint, glitter, and craft materials, drawing inspiration from Middlesbrough artist and North East Autism Society patron Mackenzie Thorpe.
Fay Strong, principal at Thornbeck College, said: "We were very pleased to hold the From All Walks of Life workshop at Thornbeck College.
"This project gave our learners the opportunity to contribute to a wider conversation and share an important message beyond the college, while engaging with important issues like disability hate crime, mate crime, and the need to support vulnerable people."
Mate crime is a specific form of exploitation, where the perpetrator falsely befriends a victim in order to abuse or take advantage of them.