There are too many words to describe this evening’s event. Emotional, powerful, impacting, encouraging and the list could go on.

For the past 2 years the NWG Network has been partnering with Photovoice to run participatory photo projects across the country with young people who have been impacted or at risk of sexual exploitation. Through the project, young people spent time exploring themes that offer a context to sexual exploitation such as gender, relationships and power. They also developed their understanding of photography techniques, digital story telling and visual literacy. The culmination of all their hard work, determination, creativity and time was brought together tonight in the exhibition of their work and the launch of the Having Your Say Too educational resource.

So what’s my part in all this been? Well other than visiting a mini project in Derby where the team did 3 days of photography, my involvement has been at a distance. Helping to go through the resource and put together information, definitions and activities. So it was a real privilege to spend today with the young people who created the images and digital stories I have come to know so well.

I arrived in London about lunch time today and headed straight to Oxford Circus where I was meeting Helen (Photovoice project manager) and young people from 3 of the projects plus workers. While eating tasty pizza and some healthy salad I got to ask some of the participants what they had enjoyed most about the project. From the chatter going on it was not hard to see that for each person the photography project had been really powerful. Developing new skills and learning about photography were definite highlights but there were more powerful themes coming through in discussion, the confidence young people gained from their involvement, the personal impact of being able to use digital imaging as a way of story telling and the community aspect of being on a journey with other people. There was a real buzz over lunch about the exhibition and seeing the images out on display.

Eventually we left the young people and workers having some desert while I went with the Photovoice team to ‘The Photographers Gallery’ to start setting up for the exhibition. We had a bare space to fill with all the images that had been printed onto larger canvases, as well as setting up a refreshments area and the rolling powerpoint. The Photograper’s Gallery is one of the top galleries in London, so this was really special to be here.

Before the public launch, we held a private screening of all the digital stories for the young people from the 4 projects involved. There was laughter, tears, applause and a real sense of achievement. For some young people they had not seen this work for over 18 months, which creates different feelings but also highlights how life has moved on and changed. Without much time in between we moved quickly on to the public launch. By 6.30, the room was filled and the air was alive with conversation about the various images on display. Soon the lights were dimmed and Helen began her long list of Thank You’s broken up by the viewing of 7 of the digital stories created by young people. Each finished to a round of applause.

I was slightly distracted knowing I was going to have to get up after these and give a, brief, speech. Where do I start? What do I say? How do I not rush like a good Scotswoman? Well, I did it and think it went ok. It was always going to be overshadowed however by two of the young people who gave rousing speeches about the impact that the Have Your Say Too project has had on them. Definitely a few tears now! There was a definite acknowledgment of the hard work of Helen and project workers who had made these experiences happen. Big cheer for Helen and the project staff! After this Helen showcased the resource and finished the night by allowing people to mingle and sign up for the toolkit. What an amazing day! I love that I get to be involved in projects like this. Hearing young people’s reality is so powerful in impacting how we respond as practitioners.

Now to get this new educational resource out in the hands of practitioners so it can do what it was created to do! For more information about Have Your Say Too get in touch with [email protected] or check out the website www.havingyoursaytoo.co.uk