A is 15
J is 10
H is 13
N is 14
S is 15
The Project
(More Than) Stats
A is 12
Over the last three months I've worked with six Looked After children in the Leeds area to record their world through photography. Aged 11 through 15, the kids have worked hard to record their lives and views in the following photos. A few have opted to elaborate with written descriptions, as well. Most represent day in the life images, and hopefully it provides a glimpse into an often overlooked part of the community.  

The idea of a collage came from the kids and I've used their paper versions as inspiration for this composite display.

On behalf of myself and the youths involved, I wish to extend special thanks to Barnardo's, the residence homes, foster families, the Leeds local authority, and the University of Leeds.  I also wish to extend particular thanks to the Leeds City Museum, which will show a new version of this exhibit from August 24th.
Three Foster Sisters
Residence Hall Kids
Working out his frustrations
"This is where we used to hide when we ranaway."
Wishes
•There were 60,900 looked after children at 31 March 2009, 2 per cent more than last year's figure of 59,400 and relatively unchanged compared to 2005 (61,000).
•There were 25,400 children who started to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2009, an increase of 9 per cent from the previous year's figure of 23,300 and an increase of 2 per cent from the 2004-05 figure of 25,000.
•There were 24,700 children who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2009, an increase of 1 per cent from the previous year's figure of 24,400 and a decrease of 5 per cent from the 2004-05 figure of 26,000.
•3,300 looked after children were adopted during the year ending 31 March 2009. This represents a 3 per cent increase from the previous year's figure of 3,200 and a 13 per cent decrease from the 2004-05 figure of 3,800.
•In the past 5 years the percentage of former care leavers, with whom the local authorities were in touch and who were in education, employment or training around the time of their 19th birthday, had increased from 58.4 per cent in 2005 to 64.9 per cent in 2008. However, in 2009 the percentage dropped to 63.0 per cent.

-From The United Kingdom Department for Children, Schools, and Families
"I made this."
"I like this photo because it inspires me and I go on trains a lot."
"This reminds me of a nice warm shower."
"I like this because I got the right lighting and to get it right you have to have another dog next to it."
"The pretty places in Leeds."
"My sisters."
"Here the men started posing for my pictures."
"I didn't mean to get my reflection here, but just liked the cakes and buns."
"I take a lot of trains, unless I can get a lift in a car."