Working with Young People and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership

Towards the end of the summer, we had the privilege of working alongside the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership and a group of young people here in Leeds. Together, we explored photography as a tool for reflection, communication, and storytelling.

The workshops were based on a Photovoice approach, giving participants cameras to capture the world around them: their environments, their communities, and the small details that often go unnoticed. The results were powerful. Each image spoke not only of individual creativity but also of lived experience, perspective, and voice.

Daniel Wheeler, Take It Easy Lab’s Education Manager, supported the group as they reviewed their photographs and began shaping them into a body of work ready for exhibition. Editing down hundreds of images into a focused series is never easy, but it was inspiring to see how the young people engaged with the process. They debated, reflected, and encouraged one another, gradually building a collection that represents both their individuality and their shared journey.

What struck us most was the way photography enabled these young people to engage differently with their surroundings. The act of documenting their lives through a lens seemed to open up new ways of seeing, and of being seen.

The project culminated in an exhibition at Leeds Beckett University, featuring the group’s photographs, a short documentary, and live performances from some of the participants. It was fantastic to see the young people taking centre stage, speaking directly with local councillors, including Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, about the social issues they face and sharing their ideas for positive change.

It’s been a privilege to play even a small part in this process, and we’re deeply grateful to the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership for inviting us to collaborate. Projects like this remind us why we believe so strongly in photography as a social tool. At its best, it’s not just about making images, it’s about connection, empowerment, and the possibility of change.