Young photography group is a picture of success

Published by Cheryl Harrison for Stockport Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment

Stockport Homes’ Customer Involvement Team, in partnership with Stockport College Photography students, has been working with a group of young people aged 10-16 years from the Lancashire Hill and Heaton Norris Area.

Over the last six weeks, the photography group have produced excellent, thought provoking images that are both creative and fun depicting the area in which they live. They have also designed a photo book and displayed their photographs in Mersey Way on Saturday 7 May for shoppers to view and comment on.

The group received over 100 comments from shoppers including one which said: “Very inspiring, the children look like they are having a good time, a good way to engage the youth of today with technology, expression and learning.”

Helen Alderson, Stockport Homes’ Customer Involvement Officer said: “We have seen a real change in their confidence in photography skills. We have some budding photographers now and I’d like to thank the Stockport College students for their time and sharing of knowledge in this successful project.”

Kylie Upton, a member of the photography group said “As soon as I had this opportunity I grabbed it with both hands. I’m so glad I did, I have met some fantastic people and I truly do believe the camera can see things that the eye can’t.”

The young photographers will also be displaying their exhibition at Stockport Homes and at the Lancashire Hill fun day, where they have also been asked to be young photographers on the day. Two of the young people now want to study photography at College.

Richard Mulhearn, Course Leader from Stockport College commented on how this has benefited his students who tutored the young photographers group: “This has been an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience for the students and staff of the Photography Degree at Stockport College. The experience for our students has provided a vocational opportunity alongside their academic study, and this opportunity will prove vital in the post-study environment, indicating a very interesting and exciting future for students on our degree programme.”

The course will be trialled in other areas and the children on Lancashire Hill will be asked to get involved in future creative projects.