Jan
I have been working with the British Red Cross for nearly twenty years covering some incredible projects with them, from disaster relief to the help that they do in the community. I was delighted to hear that the Youth Engagement team and Young Volunteers have received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award in recognition of their hard work and volunteering.
I am proud to have photographed their work of empowering young people into volunteering and inspiring social action.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups. It was established 20 years ago to commemorate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and has recognised around 250 outstanding local volunteer groups across the UK each year to date.
The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award, a special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), has been awarded to 20 national charities for their exceptional work to empower young people.
These awards are a timely acknowledgement of the wide-ranging support and encouragement that is available to young people across the UK.
They highlight the indispensable role that the voluntary sector plays in targeting help, advice and guidance where it is needed most.
These awards should also be seen as a tribute to the millions of volunteers and donors who, in difficult times, provide the resources of time and money which contribute so powerfully to the social fabric of our country.
#makeadifference #PlatinumJubileeQAVS #volunteer #empower #socialaction #charity #photo #photography #photographer #humanity #humanitarianphotography #people
May
“Portraits of Resilience” is a collaboration with the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) and is a series of portraits that are currently being exhibited at the Phillips Collection @TheARC in Washington DC. On the 27th of April the Phillips Collection organised a panel discussion about the photographs including myself as the artist and Hagir Elsheikh, who is on the TASSC International board and is a survivor of torture from Sudan.
Hagir Elsheikh – “As a torture survivor, the first thing that you lose is your voice, and getting that back requires a lot of courage. You are never really the same but you get to cope with help from organisations such as TASSC”.
Of course, if you would like to watch the whole film it is now available on YouTube at
P.S. – Please forgive my delivery … I am a photographer not an orator!
May
On Wednesday 27th of April my solo exhibition of “Portraits of Resilience “, in collaboration with TASSC International, at the Phillips Collection @TheARC in Washington DC launched with a reception and panel discussion artist talk. Over the course of the next week, I will share some of the highlights from the talk starting with
Survivors are the strongest and most effective voice in the campaign to abolish torture.
When I talk to people about the work, their initial reaction is usually the same, as they imagine gritty black and white portraits that show harrowing faces that are worn and downtrodden.
I wanted to capture a series of beautiful and powerful portraits that each person would be proud of.
Of course, if you would like to watch the whole film it is now available on YouTube at
P.S. – Please forgive my delivery … I am a photographer not an orator!
May
On Wednesday 27th of April my solo exhibition of “Portraits of Resilience “, in collaboration with TASSC International, at the Phillips Collection @TheARC in Washington DC launched with a reception and panel discussion artist talk. Over the course of the next week, I will share some of the highlights from the talk starting with
Survivors are the strongest and most effective voice in the campaign to abolish torture.
When I talk to people about the work, their initial reaction is usually the same, as they imagine gritty black and white portraits that show harrowing faces that are worn and downtrodden.
I wanted to capture a series of beautiful and powerful portraits that each person would be proud of.
Of course, if you would like to watch the whole film it is now available on YouTube at
P.S. – Please forgive my delivery … I am a photographer not an orator!