Life’s
Better Together is an initiative developed by a partnership
of three housing associations: Battersea Churches and Chelsea
Housing Trust (BCHT), Harding Housing Association and Thames
Housing Association.
It offers tenants from the three associations access to a
wide range of services, local activities and opportunities
that might help them sustain their tenancies, develop or fulfil
their ambitions, and regenerate their communities. Zoom In
is a community photography and education project founded in
1997, and based at Clapham Leisure Centre. It aims to make
photography accessible and affordable for all. Zoom In’s
outreach
programme offers photography training to adults and young
people all over London, working in association with community
groups, youth clubs, schools and voluntary organisations.
Through these projects, Zoom In offers people the chance to
develop their creativity, learn new skills, and see their
photos on display.
Life’s
Better Together Photo Club
This was a 10-session course in basic camera and
darkroom skills, which took place every Wednesday from 5pm
to 7pm at Battersea Arts Centre. The participants were young
people aged 8-16 who live in the housing associations covered
by Life’s Better Together, and the course was run by
a tutor and volunteer from Zoom In Photography. Participants
learned how to use an SLR camera and a black-and-white darkroom,
and their pictures were displayed at Battersea Arts Centre
and at Wandsworth Museum at the end of the course.
The course was funded by Life’s Better Together, and
supported by MacDonald’s, who gave a food voucher every
week to each participant.
January - June 2003
