MAPS Easter Extravaganza!

April 06, 2023 by gill thomas

When Sophie contacted me about her charity led organisation I was more than happy to lend a hand to promote her great cause using my photographic skills. I charged no fee for the hour or so I was there.

MAPS (Minchinhampton Additional Needs Parent/Carer Support Group) are a parent led group for parents/carers of children and young adults with additional needs. They offer a warm , homely and safe space for parents to gather to talk and support one another in a variety of ways. They need funding to be able to hold events, and to offer more support and opportunities to families in the area.

Their Easter extravaganza was a great success, with a variety of children’s crafts and activities, plus Magic Mary, as well as stands helping to promote other related organisations.

If you run a charity and need some professional photos taking then please get in touch using my contact page or send an email to info@mouseabouttown.co.uk. Alternatively, give me a call on 07983 465414. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

Winston's Wish - Rebrand

November 02, 2018 by gill thomas

Last week Winston’s Wish asked if I could come into their offices in Cheltenham to take some photos of some of the children wearing their new branding. It was a joy, as always, to work with the children and always fun too, despite the difficult circumstances. As well as some rebranding shots, they also needed some pictures of their help desk and a few posed thank you’s to various local businesses.

Winston's Wish - Bettridge School

September 22, 2018 by gill thomas

Winston’s Wish is a charity that sits very close to my heart so it’s always an absolute privilege when they ask me to photograph one of their sessions. This particular event took place at Bettridge School in Cheltenham. I was there for just a few hours to document some activities the children were doing, including memory jars and circle time. Despite the difficult times these children face, the room is always full of smiles and positive energy.

Prince's Countryside Fund

July 14, 2018 by gill thomas

I was recently contacted by The Prince's Countryside Fund who were looking for a photographer to take some stills to support one of their case study films. This particular film was documenting the new community shop currently being built in Crowle, Worcestershire, which had received funding from The Prince's Countryside Fund.

The brief was a reportage or candid style that would depict life within the community. To capture local residents communicating with others in real conversations about rural life and the opportunties and challenges it brings. The required imagery was of all those interviewed and shop and scenes including countryside and shots of the village.

It was a really enjoyable day and lovely to meet local residents, volunteers and members of the committee. Everyone was very passionate about their new village shop. You could see how much it had brought the community together. We had a break for lunch where we were taken out for a bite to eat at a pub in a neighbouring village. The food was delicious and the portions wonderfully big! We returned in the afternoon where I met more residents and volunteers. I also took some time to explore the village of Crowle a little more. The Church was beautiful and the allotment provided some nice colour.

If you run a charity and have an event or something similar coming up that you need professional photos of then please do get in touch. I always reduce my rates significantly, as I did so for The Prince's Countryside Fund. Please give me a call on 07983 465414 or get in touch using my contact page at the top of the website. Thanks.

Winston's Wish - Away Weekend

June 30, 2017 by gill thomas

I've been so busy with work this past month that I'm only just getting around to posting my blogs from jobs I completed in May. This was one of my favourites.

Winston's Wish is a charity very close to my heart and so I am always more than happy to help them with anything they need photographing. I never charge a fee or ask for travel expenses and they receive all the files, which I fully edit and art work.

This time they were at the Wilderness Centre in the Forest of Dean for a weekend away for those who had lost a loved one through suicide or manslaughter. It was pretty hard going at times but as always the children smiled their way through it and when they couldn't, the amazing staff at Winston's Wish were there to support them and help them work through things.

There were many activities for the children to get involved with including archery, rock climbing and painting. These gave them some light relief from the real issues facing the children. The main focus of the weekend, as always, was the group work, which is always tough. There is lots of talking, use of memory stones and memory boxes, which help the children to understand and process their grief.

If you would like to see more examples of my work for Winston's Wish then simply scroll through the Charity home page. Likewise, if you run a charity and have an event you would like photographing then please get in touch using my contact page. Alternatively you can call me on 07983 465414. I don't normally charge a fee but it depends on individual circumstances. Thanks!