With funding from Hyndburn Borough Council, we have been delivering a 10 week photography and songwriting project with local young people from Clayton-Le-Moors. The project, in collaboration with Clayton Amateur Boxing Club aims to provide young people with a range of opportunities to express themselves in positive ways, build confidence, challenge preconceptions about others and improve communication and understanding between their peers and the wider community. The project has given them the chance to explore their relationship with the local area and highlight the places and issues which are important to them.
Every Wednesday, the group meet at Clayton Community Centre and have a meal together before heading out to discuss and photograph different spaces in the town. Working with photographer Orrin Saint Pierre, they have learnt how to set up and use a camera, compose a scene and work together to tell a story through a photograph. All the young people have taken leading roles both behind and in front of the camera.
Other artists are also starting to collaborate on the project, including musician and songwriter Matt Hill who recently wrong some songs with the young people to accompany their images which will result in an outdoor event at the end of the project.
“It’s great to see children taking part in something positive in the town. There aren’t any other after school opportunities for them locally so it is really good to see them getting involved.”
