Half of Cambridge students have never given money to the homeless, according to a recent survey conducted by Varsity’s new documentary team, ‘Varsity Eye’.

While just one student in thirteen judges homelessness as “extremely serious”, one in five do not see it to be a problem at all.

For Varsity Eye’s A Big Issue? students, Big Issue sellers and retailers were interviewed in an attempt to explore attitudes towards homelessness in Cambridge.

In addition to exploring the magnitude of the problem, VarsiTV were also curious to discover the main causes believed to be behind homelessness, the life of the average Big Issue seller, and students’ reactions towards the homeless people they encounter.

75% of those surveyed admitted to having avoided eye contact with a homeless person, and 1 in 10 have crossed the road to avoid interaction. Consequently, the team was keen to take to streets to get to the heart of what is evidently still a difficult issue.

Student opinion varied greatly, with one student explaining his sense of “moral obligation” towards homeless people, and another suspicious of what he termed “professional homeless people”.

Retailers also offered some illuminating information. The owner of one well-known Cambridge café – who refused to be named – revealed that he often sends homeless people on their way if they choose to sit outside his shop. At the other end of the spectrum, renowned Cambridge institution The Fudge Kitchen on King’s Parade takes a much more charitable, if unorthodox, approach, offering the homeless “generous samples” of fudge when they come in.

The Big Issue sellers interviewed for Varsity Eye spoke candidly of their ill treatment at the hands of passers-by; yet each made clear that this abuse was the exception rather than the rule.

One Big Issue seller, Darrell, who claimed that he would be unable to live without the income generated by The Big Issue, said that students provided 80% of his business.

The familiar street performer who styles himself “Banjo Nick”, himself a Cambridge graduate, also explains that “there will always be kind people” and sees any donation as an “act of goodwill.”

Despite the overwhelming student ambivalence and lack of awareness displayed by many of those interviewed, a minority felt strongly enough to be involved with the charitable organisations operating around the city. Such charities hope to raise awareness among student community, and spirits among the homeless.

One such student-run charity, Streetbite, provides twice-weekly food runs, delivering sandwiches and hot drinks to those in need. A second-year student volunteer, Rosie Hore, said: “We’re not saying it changes lives, but hopefully it can make a difference to someone’s day. That’s all we’re really about.”

There are also other ways of getting involved: recent Cambridge graduate, Jessica Middleton-Pugh, student volunteer coordinator at FLACK magazine, agrees that students offering their time can be invaluable. FLACK, published monthly, fosters creativity by providing homeless people with the opportunity to write and produce their own magazine. Jessica explains that every £1 donated to FLACK provides a social return of £2, by rehabilitating drug users and helping homeless people re-enter the workforce.

Follow this link to watch VarsiTV’s documentary, A Big Issue?