Since Spring 2025 we have been delivering a creative project (including photography, songwriting and printmaking) 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 week the group have met at Clayton Community Centre and have a meal together before heading out to discuss and respond to different spaces in the town. Working with photographer Orrin Saint Pierre, songwriter Matt Hill and print making Craig Atherton they have learnt how to set up and use a camera, compose a scene and work together to tell a story through a photograph whilst also creating music to accompany the imagery. All the young people have taken leading roles both behind and in front of the camera.
This work originally culminated in an exhibition on Saturday the 19th July alongside artist Natasha Aldred’s Clayton Portraits project and now continues as a weekly Saturday group.
“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.”
