Free photography workshops

In 2003 I was diagnosed with PTSD as the result of my service experiences in the fire brigade.  The time that followed was very difficult for me and those close to me but one of the things that I found helpful was photography.

Immersing myself into my hobby was a huge help to distract me from the intrusive and unwanted thoughts that kept entering my head and gave me respite  from the things that my eyes had seen but mind wouldn't forget.

Now I've retired from service I want to help emergency service and military personnel who live with mental health issues as a result of their operational service experiences by providing them with free photography workshops.

My aim is to provide a distraction and respite through learning the art of photography by being in a social and creative environment.

I have invested my own money but now need to raise funds to launch the workshops by the end of April 2017.  The funds raised will be spent on paying for marketing, insurance, buying photographic equipment such as cameras, lenses and studio lighting, paying for photographic event days such as wildlife, nautical and portraiture.

Money raised will also be used to pay for a laptop computer, projector, photographic consumables such as photographic paper, batteries, memory cards etc.

There will also be the opportunity for attendees to professionally frame their favourite photographs and even display them in an annual exhibition.

My project is now my passion.  Photography helped me so much when I was ill and I know just how helpful it can be for others who are living with similar experiences.

Positive Focus UK is a not-for-profit community group with a committee of five people overseeing operations. My reward is seeing people learn and develop and achieve where they thought they couldn't.  

I cannot not do this at the level it deserves to be, to help the most people that I can on my own and I would be eternally grateful to those of you who can see their way to helping me help others.

You can see more of what I'm doing on my website Positive Focus UK 

Thank-you so much.