Community photo contest seeks your view of city of Preston

It wants answers not on a postcard but in a camera - a disposable camera.

We Are Here is the creative initiative of The Foxton Centre, which helps the vulnerable and disadvantaged. It has 200 disposable cameras which will be available for collection free of charge from May 1 at three city locations: The Foxton Centre on Knowsley St, P. and S. Consulting Engineers Ltd, 31, Winckley Square and Dice and Donuts on Butler Street.

Participants will take photos for a contest entitled Preston, Our City, Your City and return the camera to the pick up points by May 16.

The group says the contest has three main aims - to make voices heard, to encourage self-development and to reconnect local communities and says “Make your voice heard and share your experiences and perspectives on life in Preston - we are creating a space where a banker, a child and a rough sleeper can have an equal forum for communication and representation.”

It hopes the photos will broaden perspectives by witnessing to “the daily lives, loves, challenges, and passions of individuals in Preston” with participants not disadvantaged by not having access to expensive digital cameras.

Entrants will be provided with copies of their photographs together with digital images and their work could feature in a special exhibition at Dice and Donuts, with some entries featuring in a follow up book and a special display at the Foxton Centre. Entry is free, but the charity says a donation of £4 would be welcome to cover the cost of developing and printing. A camera can also be requested by emailing [email protected]

• There will be a series of photography workshops at The Foxton Centre where l photographers from Preston Photographic Society will pass on advice on framing and composing a creative photograph.