Photo Voices - My World

Lyngford Park Primary School

Summer 2025

‘Photo Voices - My World’ was a participatory photography project developed by Looking for Change CIC in collaboration with Lyngford Park Primary School in Taunton, Somerset, which took place in the summer term of 2025.

Despite knowing little about the photovoice method, Headteacher Mr N Arnold recognised the need for an innovative intervention to support students who struggle with confidence and poor attention, mental health and communication skills.

He invited Looking for Change CIC to design a project, with input from the Special Educational Needs Coordinator, which would build resilience and personal skills and allow the voices of these students to be heard.

Project Aims:

Build Resilience - by helping students to understand themselves, believe in themselves, recognise good relationships, reflect and aspire.
Strengthen Communication Skills - by improving self-awareness and self-expression, listening skills and empathy, creative skills, visual literacy and teamwork.
Share student voices to better understand their worlds - by giving students the opportunity to be heard and show others what matters to them, directly informing carers, teachers and policy makers while gaining agency and self-esteem.

“I loved the light on the ball. I really like my football stuff because it keeps encouraging me to be the best I can.” P

“Labubu knocked my candy on the floor and it broke, so I put her in the Troublemaker Zone.” G-M

What we did:

A group of 9-10 year olds, half girls, half boys on the SEND register, were chosen to participate in a 2½ hour workshop once a week for 6 weeks.

Each session combined a theme relevant to resilience with a photographic theme, and group activities, which were prompted by photographs, to explore these themes. For example, ‘Emotions’ and how to photograph the invisible through symbols and associations, or ‘Someone you love’ and portraiture.

Between sessions students were given cameras and a ‘prompt’ card to take home to research the theme personally in their own time.

“I took it as taking photographs to describe myself and I enjoyed that.” G

“I got to express myself through pictures which I don’t usually do.” S1

“I love Cookie because when no-one pays attention to me because they’re all so busy, it’s like he knows and he comes and sits on my lap until he falls asleep.” G

“I don’t like the dark. My cupboard is very dark at night. I took this at 3am.” S2

Throughout the project we used conversations and student evaluations to inform the design and content of the following week’s workshop.

The project worked towards a final exhibition of photographs which were taken and selected by the participants. Each photo was accompanied by a caption to encourage reflection and provide context.

The exhibition ‘My World’ was shown in the school hall and then again in Taunton Arts Hub, a community arts space in the centre of town.

Posters and invitations were created using the student’s photographs and people from the health and education sectors, the council and community groups were invited, as well as friends and family.

Outcomes:

For all involved the project was a positive experience. Without exception every student said they had enjoyed taking part and had learnt or changed in some way. Parents confirmed this.

They all noticeably improved their ability to reflect, to speak about their ideas in front of the group, to listen to others and to take photographs.

They were all extremely proud of their framed photos and keen to explain and show them to people.

Members of the public and students from other classes who attended the shows found it insightful and inspiring.

Teachers were grateful for the ‘window into the children’s lives’, finding it helpful in understanding them as individuals and informing their approach going forward.

At the end of the project we had a one-to-one session with each student to hear their thoughts and feedback. We spoke to parents and teachers, interviewed visitors to the exhibition and had a comments book available.

“I enjoyed it because when I took photos it made me calm and relieved and it’s made me more confident.” S1

Reflecting on the project: “I’ve learnt to respect others when they’re talking because butting in is rude and they don’t get to finish their sentence. I didn’t like that when it happened to me.” E2

Your favourite part of the project? “Taking pictures of loved ones because I found it really touching, thinking about it.” G

“E has thoroughly enjoyed these photography sessions to explore his feelings and think about what’s important to him.” E’s mother

What was difficult? “The slideshows were hard. At first I was shy but then I became okay and addicted to it!” P

Something you’ve learnt? “ I want to share myself more, in general, to be more open. It helps people to understand you better and make friends.” S"2

“B never focusses on anything for long, he gets bored. We’ve never seen him so involved with something, he always had his camera and was thinking about what photos to take. He’s loved this project. We’re thinking to buy him a camera, we think it’s really good for him,.” B’s father

“I’m really good at taking photos. I never thought that I could do cameras but I actually can!” B

“This project has surpassed all expectations and been so much more successful than I could ever have imagined!” N Arnold, (Headteacher)

“Your exhibition opened my eyes to the potential of our youngsters, thank you!” Member of the

“All children should be given this opportunity. A truly insightful and fantastic project!” L Upham (Teacher of year 6 )