Youth photography exhibition in Redcar
Turning Tides, a community-led wellbeing and resilience support programme for local young people, is proud to announce the opening of a powerful new photography exhibition at the Kirkleatham Walled Garden Plantation in Redcar.
The exhibition will showcase the creative work of young participants who have been supported by Turning Tides to explore photography as a tool for self-expression and improving wellbeing. This marks the first public display of their work, which will be available to view from Monday 22nd September until Friday 26th September. A private view will be held on 24th September from 3.30-5.00pm.
Under the mentorship of Turning Tides Youth engagement worker, Thomas Harvey, a recent photography graduate from the local area, participants have developed professional photography skills, while also using the medium as an emotional outlet. The young people have also received business mentorship from Ainsley Mullen,
Enterprise Lead at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, via the council’s Business Engagement Team. The photographs, which capture the beauty of the surrounding coastal landscape, will be available for purchase: empowering participants to turn passion into entrepreneurial opportunity.
The exhibition aims to spotlight the urgent need for preventative mental wellbeing support for young people, who continue to face growing challenges. It also celebrates the strength of the person-centred outcomes partnership model, and the positive impact of community-led initiatives. Turning Tides is a two-year pilot project, funded and initiated by Anglo American and designed and developed collaboratively with local young people, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) expertise, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Tees Valley Public Health, and Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, which also manages delivery. The partnership provides tailored support for young people before they reach crisis, to help them navigate the transition to early adulthood and achieve the best outcomes in each of their lives.
Finn, a Turning Tides participant aged 18 from Saltburn in Redcar and Cleveland, commented on the programme: “Other wellbeing support services were too robotic and I didn’t open up. With Turning Tides coaching I was able to talk more openly about things I had never talked about before, because I was comfortable on my bike with my coach.”
Katie Cowie, Programme Manager at Turning Tides, said: “This exhibition is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of young people in Redcar and Cleveland. Through photography, they’ve found a powerful way to express themselves, build self-confidence, and connect with their community. It’s a shining example of what’s possible when we invest in preventative mental wellbeing support and work together to empower the next generation.”
Matt Parsons, Head of Social Performance for the Anglo American Crop Nutrients business said: “We’re proud of the young people who have inspired this exhibition. Their creativity and courage in sharing their stories through photography is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in early support and listen to young voices. As a pilot, Turning Tides is already demonstrating the impact of community-led preventative support and the value of designing solutions hand-in-hand with young people and local partners.”
If you would like to enquire about attending the private view on 24th September, please contact: [email protected].