Groundwork launches new parks photography competition for 16 to 24s

Groundwork parks photography competition for 16 to 24s

Community charity, Groundwork has launched a photography competition to encourage young people to share their views on what they love about their local park to be in with a chance of winning a professional photography course, as well as having their views shared with MPs.

The competition, launched as part of the #MyHomeMyPark campaign, is calling upon young people to send in photos of their local park via social media, alongside their opinions on their local park and what could be done to make it better for the local community.

The competition devised with support by young volunteers working with the charity as a ‘Youth Advisory Board’ (YAB) will run from Wednesday 10 July – Friday 9 August with 10 of the best entries winning a place on a local professional photography course.

The winning entries will also be featured during the Labour and Conservative party conferences later this year, where the YAB will raise their concerns for the future of our parks and green spaces directly with MPs.

YAB member, Mo Langmuir said: “Parks are more important to me than any venue, club, centre or café.

“They are places to go that are free and are community hubs with fresh air, green carpets and shady trees built in. Young people are the second biggest user of parks in this country, so we should have a say in how they’re run.”

The campaign is one of the latest initiatives led by the Groundwork YAB, a group that of 15 passionate young people from across the UK, who are working to implement change in local communities across the UK and get voice of young people heard.

As the recent School Strike for Climate protests have shown, young people are passionate about their environment, locally and globally. However, a government survey found that 69% of 16 to 24-year olds are satisfied with their local area, compared to 84% of those aged 65 and over. With the average age of local councillors currently at 59.4 years old, it is easy to see how the views and experiences of young people can be easily overlooked in decision-making.

Groundwork has been working to address this imbalance by contributing to policy work led by Our Bright Future, a youth-led environmental programme funded by The National Lottery Community Fund designed to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

The charity is also leading on the ‘Future Proof Parks’ initiative, funded by The National Heritage Lottery Fund programme, Kick the Dust.  Future Proof Parks aims to encourage young people to get involved with their local park by joining forces with ‘Friends of Park Groups’ in regions across the UK to help preserve local park heritage.

Read the full rules here: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/youthhub/news/photography-competition-rules-uk