Community and Youth Support around London & UK
“SW16 is my home and where my projects are born from. I am so aware of the lack of opportunities faced by the youths in South London and the surrounding areas of Brixton, Thornton Heath and Croydon. My career before photography was youth homelessness and family mediation across London, working in secondary schools, pupil referral units and Great Ormond Street Hospital School. As a Lambeth School Governor, it has highlighted the social and educational needs many children still face. I have spent the last few years teaching outside of London, including Scotland and Wales and moving into . Hope comes from when young people are able to see the positive change in society that includes them too, regardless of their starting point.”
Northampton University Degree Show 2026
This year our BA students at Northampton University had their degree show at PhotoFusion in Brixton. An incredible experience for them to learn how to pull a large show together in a London space, and present work that will be the start of their photographic careers. Some students have since gained awards.
BBC Children In Need - We Move Forward - “Through Our Eyes” 2026
Prince of Wales visiting the students we worked with for the We Move Forwards project - This role was to support the youths in creating thier own exhibition that they would have displayed in a gallery space in Covent Garden, London. The project is to drive the change that is needed to build a brilliant, equitable future for young people. This kind of work is known as Youth Social Action. It encourages young people to use their unique voices to represent themselves and others in their communities. Young people's ability to be positively solution-oriented, to challenge the status quo and to speak out for themselves and others has not been dampened by years of being told what is and isn’t possible. This is why youth-led work is one of the most powerful tools in communities. It enables young people to become part of the solution to challenges around mental health and wellbeing, poverty, racism, violence and a range of other issues.
Big Kid Youth Club - Dexters Adventure playground, Brixton
Big Kid Youth Charity is based in the heart of Brixton - over the years we have collaborated on multiple projects to support young people in their creative work and supported them through to competition where they have succeeded beyond what they believed possible. We understand that opening the door is only one small part and it is important to work together in order to keep it open for them. Some of the activities have involved visiting galleries, visits to professional printing labs, photo workshops and practice workshops at Fuji Film House of photography, London, and a portrait exhibition of their incredible staff displayed at Goldman Sachs, London.
As part of a talk sponsored by MPB we were able to include the youths from Big Kid youth club in brixton to be models for the day to their photographic peers. This initiative allowed for everyone to be involved in all levels of the creative process and an enjoyable way to be expressive with photography and learn about lighting techniques.
Portobello Stories 2025
Arts Council funded Portobello Stories allowed an opportunity to teach people of all ages and backgrounds new skills that they can take into the work space. The space also allowed time for them to talk about the tragedies in the area and meet neighbours that they might never otherwise speak to.
Gloves Not Gunz - Be Inspired - 2026
After the sad loss of Allan Ballard, the young people in our area who were touched by him became part of a legacy exhibition where he could be remembered and celebrated. Art can connect us through the hardest of time as a release and celebration of youth achievement when it isn’t always expected. From young people who had been expelled to completely turning their live around and giving the children of Croydon much more hope that there are people who are looking out for them.
Using Exhibition to Reach Young Minds
With every exhibition, it is important to draw in the young people who will benefit most from the content. A lot of it will resonate with their lives and home environments, sometimes even their heritage or class. Those moments offer a calm and reflective space to see what is possible for them and give them the opportunity to ask questions and develop their own projects and perspectives.
Mentee & Student successes 2024-2026
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Streatham Youths
In the Summer of 2021, Streatham festival added group work for young people to the workshops. We worked hard together as a team to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn photography. It was an absolute joy to head up this project for the kids in my area and we have all intentions to grow this further over the coming years.
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Eye on Streatham
A new opportunity for the young people of Streatham, details of 2022 coming soon.
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The Change Foundation - change through Sport
Working with not for profits is something I carried on after I left the Homeless Charity. working 13 years with youth homelessness affects a person deeply and this will be an area of professional work I will always align myself to.
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This Girl Can & Sport England
During Lockdown, I fully embraced the Muay Thai world and exercised with my children online whilst i had no work. I used to fight but my confidence was not what it was. The This Girl Can campaign reached out to work together but it helped me connect even further with the charities that were donating time for free to support women like me to maintain our wellbeing without cost.
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Thai Boxing Community Centre - Croydon
The Thai Boxing Community Center delivered these sessions thought various funding pools to better support marginalised and ‘at risk’ youths. Khru Sam has welcomed me to the team and its a privelidge to work for and with him.
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London Sport & Croydon Voluntary Action
Working and supporting Croydon Voluntary Action. Giving opportunity to refugees, the marginalised and groups who can not access sport due to cultural and financial obstacles.
