© Kreative Foudation, BIG PICTURE Club Initiative

Through Camera Amnesty Projects, we support the delivery of high-quality projects for people who are affected by a number of difficult situations including homelessness, displacement, poverty and social injustices across the UK and around the world, including hands-on workshops, exhibitions, and print projects, enabling participants to express their ideas and creativity.

Originally set up in 2017 to connect homeless photographers with the equipment they needed, the project has continued to grow into something much bigger, providing a platform, funds and equipment to those who need it and reaching thousands of people across the globe.

There are many people who often go unsupported, unseen and unheard. Our aim is to help them achieve their potential through a positive and supportive experience and have their voices heard through powerful visual conversations. Through the projects we support, we help photographers build their confidence and develop transferable skills, empowering people to use their photography to tell their own stories, creating outcomes that benefit them and the wider community.

Every day we see for ourselves how photography can be life-changing. Aside from enabling access to photography for as many people as possible, we want to make sure that all photographers can carry on developing their careers and expressing themselves through their creative skills, whatever their situation. Can you imagine seeing the image but not being able to take the shot?

Here are just a few examples of how the donations we’ve received have been used to make a difference:

• Accumulate – We built a camera library for their participants, and worked with them to organise workshops and portfolio reviews at The Photographers Gallery, and an exhibition with The Guardian.
• Kreatives Foundation – We helped them launch the BIG PICTURE Club initiative, a program for disadvantaged and at-risk youths in Kenya that teaches them photography and life skills, by providing photography equipment. Find out more about this project here. They have further expanded their work by founding the Get-Kreative training hub at Kenya’s National Library where they host dedicated workshops in photography, financial literacy, digital marketing, and business management.
• Sirkhane Darkroom – We hosted an online exhibition of work created by Syrian children and continue to support their workshops, providing them with photographic equipment.
• VII Academy – we provided free portfolio reviews for the organisation, and photographic equipment for Ukrainian photographers taking part in their Dispatches in Exile projects.
• Sunshine Project – we supported the launch of Powell-Cotton Museum’s nature photography group for adults with learning difficulties, social isolation or who are experiencing struggles with their mental health.

Over the years we’ve worked with many individuals, charities, and organisations, including Accumulate, Bright Youth Forum, Crisis, Headway London, Hestia, Kreative Foundation, People of the Streets, Red Cross, Refuge Charity, Shelter, Single Homeless Project, Sirkhane Darkroom, Toiletries Amnesty and VII Academy.

With a background in community development, supporting vulnerable people, and creative project management, we offer advice and support based on knowledge and understanding. Our projects are delivered with kindness as our first and foremost objective.

DO YOU HAVE PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT TO DONATE?

Thank you! We can accept anything that could be of use to a photographer: digital and film cameras of any age, from D/SLRs to point and shoots, smartphones, tablets, laptops, film, memory cards, tripods, filters, video cameras and filming equipment,  film scanners, darkroom equipment, books and more.

Where an item can’t be used by any of the groups (due to age, damage, unsuitability etc) rather than dispose of it, we will attempt to sell it on, and any income from this will go straight back into Camera Amnesty Projects funds.

PLEASE SEND PACKAGES TO US AT: Shutter Hub Camera Amnesty, ℅ PCM Services Ltd, 1st Floor Office Suite, The Stable Yard, Ryston Hall, Ryston, Downham Market, England, PE38 0AA

Please note: PCM Services volunteer their time, address, and storage for Camera Amnesty Projects but cannot accept phone calls or individual visitors at their offices. We are hugely grateful to PCM Services for their kindness and ongoing support.

There is no need to register your donation or intention to donate, you can simply post the donation at the above address.

Got an unanswered question? Check out our FAQs here.

DO YOU NEED PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT?

Please complete the form below to let us know more.

Camera Amnesty Project – Request Equipment