Action for Children and the Royal Photographic Society have launched a new photography project challenging young carers to get creative and show what’s important in their lives.

Action for Children and the Royal Photographic Society, supported by Arts Council England have launched a nationwide photography project to celebrate young carers across the UK.

The charities who share HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as Patron are asking young carers to get creative to photograph what’s important to them in their lives and learn a fantastic new skill along the way.

Selected entries will form a nationwide photography exhibition entitled ‘Young Carers – A Life in Focus’. This will follow a series of free online workshops and resources available to all young carers across the UK, created by leading photographers, on how to take unique images on their mobile phone, device or camera.

Caiden Meacham (10) from Haverfordwest is supported by Action for Children’s young carers service in Pembrokeshire. He said: “I want to learn how to take good photos and can’t wait to learn. I like taking photos of lots of different things like nature and my pets which mean a lot to me.”

Vikki Phillips, service coordinator for Pembrokeshire Young Carers, added: “The project has generated a lot of excitement amongst our young people like Caiden. It’s a generation that love to take photographs and document their lives so this is a perfect opportunity to do that while learning new skills from experts in the field. I’d love to see some of their work showcased in the exhibition.

Celebrated photographer and visual artist Jo Bradford has produced the innovative and creative online workshops, which will cover technical topics such as composition through leading lines and interesting placements of subjects, lighting using objects you can find around your home to achieve professional results and editing using homemade filters and apps found on your phone.

With an estimated 800,000 children and young people across the UK caring for a family member with a disability, illness or mental health issue – some as young as five years old – Action for Children and the Royal Photographic Society are encouraging young carers to capture their thoughts, emotions and life experiences.

Typically, young carers help with practical tasks around the home such as cooking, housework and shopping; physical care, such as helping someone out of bed; and personal care, such as helping someone dress.

To launch the project, photographer Jo Bradford shares her top three tips for young carers to get them experimenting with their photographic skills:

1. Shine a torch on reflective, shiny objects around your home to make interesting light patterns in your photographs. A CD, vase or glass can create a glimmer or reflection
2. Use the objects in your home to create frames by placing them in the fore and background. Placing plants in the foreground could give a great jungle effect or a hole in some bubble wrap could make a fun frame for a face
3. Get experimental with your phone settings – using the panorama setting and shaking your phone up and down can produce abstract patterns around you

Action for Children supports over 3,700 children and young people who are young carers across the UK, giving them advice and respite through short breaks, activities and the chance to connect with other young carers.

Melanie Armstrong, Chief Executive at Action for Children, said: “We see first-hand the impact of loneliness and stress on young carers, who are dedicating a large part of their childhood to helping loved ones. These children and young people are often desperate for a break from their duties so it’s important for them to have some fun by doing a hobby or something they enjoy.

“Our photography project will offer young carers the chance to do something for themselves while learning a new skill. We can’t wait to see the creative contributions later this year!”

Evan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Royal Photographic Society, adds: “There are thousands of inspirational young people in the UK performing regular caring duties for their loved ones, whilst also completing their education and somehow finding time to have a childhood.

“Every situation is different – but these remarkable lives are rarely seen in the media or understood by their peers. We will provide new photography skills to these young people, and help celebrate their vital contribution to UK communities.”

If you are a young carer in the UK, we’re asking you to take photographs of what’s important to you in your everyday life and we’d love to see them. Selected entries will be part of a nationwide exhibition called Young Carers – A Life in Focus.

For more information: https://rps.org/opportunities/young-carers-a-life-in-focus/

Pembrokeshire County Show, the largest county agricultural show in Wales, is going ahead this year, over two days, on 17 and 18 August.

This year’s event, the first open to the public since 2019, will be a celebration of rural life in the county.

The last full-scale show, which would normally attract around 100,000 visitors and competitors, was held in August 2019 followed by a virtual event in 2020 and a scaled down version in 2021 for animals and members only.

Mansel Raymond, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society President said, “We are very excited about the prospect of seeing our wonderful members, competitors, trade stands, sponsors and community coming together once again this August. Whether you’re a Pembrokeshire local or just visiting we’re sure you’ll have a fantastic day out.”

The society say there will be some changes this year to the layout of the County Show to make it a better experience for everyone including the trade stands and visitors.

There will be several smaller rings as was the case in the 2021 show. To enable a much larger public viewing area it has also been decided to remove all marquees and trade stands from the immediate main ringside.

This year there will also be a new open air ‘street food’ area. To enable a smooth transition, the society are recommending all trade and catering stands secure their pitches as soon as possible by visiting www.pembsshow.org or calling 01437 764 331.

Sponsorship Manager, Richard Cole, said, “If you’d like to discuss becoming an advertiser in the show programme, sponsoring a section of the show or becoming an official show partner, please give me a call on 01437 764 331 or complete the form on our website.”

Tickets for Society members and the public will be launched in the near future from www.pembsshow.org.

Ashmole & Co are encouraging those qualifying from university, sitting their GCSEs or A Levels this month to consider a future career in accountancy.

They say trainees are the lifeblood of the accountancy firm which has offices in Haverfordwest and Tenby.

Ashmole & Co employed Adam Bowen last year as a Trainee Accountant based in the Haverfordwest office. Adam lives in Pembroke with his parents and brother. Day to day he prepares statutory accounts for clients, Tax returns and VAT returns for local individuals, sole traders, partnerships and limited companies.

William Hughes, Partner in the Haverfordwest Ashmole & Co office, said, “It is important as a profession that we help nurture the next generation of professional accountants. Trainee staff members are the lifeblood for the future success of our firm. We are a local business and are always keen to employ those who live locally.”

After passing his A Levels Adam completed a Business Management Degree gaining a First Class Honours and an MSc Accounting and Finance Masters with Distinction, both at Swansea University. He began his Masters in September 2020 and joined Ashmole & Co in February 2021. He then went on to complete his Masters exams and dissertation as an Ashmole & Co employee completing his course in September 2021 and graduating in December 2021. 

Commenting on his appointment Adam said, “I was delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the experienced team at Ashmole & Co who are one of the most established and largest teams of chartered and certified accountants and auditors in south and west Wales. It is very rewarding to be able to learn new skills and apply the skills I’ve already gained from my University and ACCA studies.”

In his spare time Adam likes playing football. He plays for Hundleton Football Club and when he isn’t taking part himself he enjoys watching the game.

Ashmole & Co are one of the largest chartered certified accountants in Wales. The rapidly expanding and modern firm often has job opportunities for enthusiastic individuals both qualified and non-qualified within the organisation.

Ashmole & Co say if you feel you have the qualities to be part of their team, email your CV to AshmoleHR@ashmole.co.uk or apply for a specific vacancy on www.ashmole.co.uk.