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Life Through Lenses Exhibition

Emmerdale actors helped to put mental health in the picture at the launch of our ‘Life Through Lenses’ photography exhibition on May 19th at Shine in Leeds.

The exhibition, timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, showcased the unique relationship between volunteers and service users and is a joint project between ourselves, documentary photographer Karen Rangeley and three Leeds College of Art students on the BA Visual Communications course.

Emmerdale actors Zoe Henry (Rhona) and Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle) attended the event and talked about the mental health story lines they have been involved with recently in the soap. They kindly stayed to chat to the attendees and have their photos taken with the many Emmerdale fans.

There were five volunteers and five service users who took part in the project which focused on using photography to capture their relationship over a period of four months.

Liz Lee, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Community Links commented:

“This project has given our service users the chance to participate in artistic activity, which brings a positive and lasting therapeutic impact. It also stimulates interesting conversations – all the participants have a story to tell and they have tangible evidence of their involvement”.

Service user Tim quoted :

“The images are in many ways a reflection of my mental health, often dark and hidden in the shadows with moments of clarity and light”.

The candid images taken by the volunteers and service users featured in the exhibition can be viewed until June 17th at Shine, Harehills Road, Leeds.

A huge thank you to all the organisations and individuals who have supported the project and made it such a success.

Our volunteers : Donna, Nathan, Oven Scott and Steven.
Our service users : Ana, Frank, Time, Steven and Grace.

More photos from the exhibition launch night can be viewed on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/CommunityLinks