NOTT PHOTO HUB EVALUATION 19 AUGUST 2019

Nottingham Photographers’ Hub CIC:
Pathway to Resilience Project
July 2016 - 2019
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
Project ID 10274136
Project evaluation completed by The Institute of Mental Health

If you are looking through the
camera lens you can divorce
yourself from the situation and look
at it in a different light, so it’s not just
photography but wellbeing
I’ve met some wonderful people,
if you are not feeling good, everyone
knows and understands
It’s very therapeutic; it’s like
you’re composing yourself to achieve
something, that you are looking
The Nottingham Photographers’ Hub would like to thank all
the participants and learners who took part in the project and
focus groups over the three years. The project would not have
been possible without the continued funding received from the
National Lottery Community Fund.
We would also like to thank all our referral partners, especially
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the
Nottingham Recovery College for their longstanding support.
Contents
Summary 4
Introduction 5
Overview 5
Programme Structure 5
Course Content 5
Course Support 6
Beneficiaries 6
Target outputs and outcomes 7
Evaluation objectives 8
Methodology 8
Findings 9
Changes in Mental
Wellbeing Scores 9
Forward strategy 16
Conclusion 17
Appendix 18

Summary
Introduction
This report describes the evaluation of the
Nottingham Photographers’ Hub (NPH)
Pathway to Resilience Project which was
funded from 2016 to 2019 by the National
Lottery Community Fund. The aim of the
Project was to improve the mental health
symptoms of learners by teaching them
photography skills. Staff that ran the
programme collected all the data included
in this report. The analysis was conducted
by the Research Support and Consultancy
Service at the Institute of Mental Health.
These are the key findings of the evaluation:
Key findings
• Participants’ overall mental wellbeing
improved when measured by
the quantitative wellbeing scale
(WEMWBS).
• Participants reported feeling less
isolated, demonstrated by the
improvement in WEMWBS scores
relating to feeling close to other people.
• Participants reported increased
confidence, demonstrated by the
improvement in WEMWBS scores
relating to feeling optimistic and useful.
• Participants reported increased
resilience, demonstrated by the
improvement in WEMWBS scores
relating to dealing with problems well
and thinking clearly.
• Participants also reported increases
in these outcomes through the Focus
Groups.
Overview
This document reports on the evaluation of
the Nottingham Photographers’ Hub (NPH)
Pathway to Resilience Project which was funded
from 2016 to 2019 by the National Lottery
Community Fund. Founded in 2010, the NPH
is an organisation that aims to give a voice to
marginalised people and communities, through
bespoke community-based courses designed
around beneficiary needs. This evaluation
focuses on the ‘Pathways to Resilience’
Project which provided photography courses
for adults with mental ill health. Courses
comprised up to 12 learners, ran for 10 weeks
and taught camera skills and a range of other
personal development skills such as verbal
and visual communication, team building,
negotiating, decision making and interpersonal
skills. Beneficiaries also worked to develop a
photobook which comprised a series of images
that provided a sequential step-by-step guide to
coping with stressful situations and which they
kept as an aid memoire to help them deal with
challenging situations and in so doing help build
their resilience.
Each course concluded with an exhibition and
awards ceremony where learners showcased
their work to a wider audience and received
their framed photographs alongside a portfolio
of their work. This portfolio acted as a constant
reminder of what they had achieved and could
also be used to access accredited courses and
to encourage future learning and continuous
development.
of whom were used by staff, leaving 12 places
for learners. External activities were critical
to meeting the ‘reducing isolation’ outcome
and therefore were an integral part of the
programme.
Course Content
Through interactive workshop sessions in a
safe and supportive environment, learners were
taught various types of photography including
portraiture, landscape, movement and close-up
(macro) photography using Digital Single Lens
Reflex (DSLR) cameras and also how to edit,
print, mount, frame and hang images. Whilst
learners were encouraged to produce high
quality photographs, the primary focus was the
process, which was the approach and activities
used to achieve the outcomes. During each
course, learners worked individually but also
in pairs, project teams and as a whole group,
which aimed to promote interaction between
course members. Courses included trips to
local galleries, parks and other venues in order
to broaden their horizons and (re)acquaint
learners with other community provisions they
may wish to access outside course sessions.
Together with the group work, this aimed to
facilitate friendships and reduce feelings of
isolation. The journey from novice photographer
to exhibitor was a journey of confidence – each
course culminated in an Exhibition and Awards
Ceremony at week 10 where learners gained
sufficient confidence to showcase a selection of
their work to family, friends, health workers and
the general public.
Programme Structure
Through the Pathways to Resilience Project,
six Photography & Personal Development
Programmes were run per year for three years;
a total of 18 courses. Each course catered
for a maximum of 12 people. NPH worked
with no more than this number as the learners
were extremely vulnerable; most finding large
groups intimidating and therefore inaccessible
and a number having challenging behaviours.
On a practical level, the minibuses NPH hired
from Nottingham Community Transport for the
external trips had a seating capacity of 15, three
The ‘Pathways to Resilience’ project developed
from a previous project ‘Pathways to Recovery’
also funded by The National Lottery Community
Fund which also delivered photography
courses to adults with mental ill health. A new
element was introduced into the substantive
course to meet a new and additional outcome
of ‘increasing resilience’ to cope with stressful
situations that may negatively impact on
learners’ mental wellbeing’. During the course
learners developed a photobook of images so
that each learner had a physical representation
that aimed to act as an aid memoire for coping
with stressful situations.
4 5

Course Support
The workshops were delivered in a community
environment by two qualified tutors with the
support of the project coordinator. The high staff
ratio of 3:12 was necessary due to the varying
illnesses of participants, which meant that
some required 1-1 support or needed time out
if feeling particularly anxious or exhibiting erratic
behaviour.
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries were those with a clinical
mental health diagnosis living in psychiatric
hospitals, in secure units or in the community.
They had experience of a variety of mental
health conditions including bi-polar and
personality disorders, debilitating depression,
schizophrenia, obsessions and compulsions,
phobias, body/gender dysmorphia, and
dual diagnoses (complex needs). Many had
substance misuse and other issues. Their
conditions led to social isolation and exclusion;
family relationships were often affected.
They often felt shame about their largely
misunderstood conditions and were often
stigmatised and feared by others. Therefore,
connecting and communicating with other
people was a daunting proposition. They found
dealing with everyday situations challenging.
They were often dependent on benefits as they
had not been able to work. Some of those that
had mental illness in childhood also had literacy
problems due to extensive absences from
school.
Case Study 1
‘A’, a woman in her late thirties had
a nervous breakdown as a result
of domestic violence which left her
extremely anxious, frightened and
paranoid. She was referred to us by
her psychiatrist after expressing an
interest in art.
Due to her anxieties, along with her
support worker she met with us prior
to the course where it was agreed that
she would come to sessions up to 30
minutes earlier to acclimate herself,
sit in the same seat each week under
the far wall facing the door to see who
came through the door and have oneto-one
support from a member of staff
on external trips.
Over the course of the 10 weeks,
‘A’ gained sufficient confidence
to exhibit a selection of her work,
stand up in front of an audience to
receive her certificate of attendance
and on leaving the course with the
support of one of our tutors went on
to do a further education course in
photography.
Target outputs and outcomes
Through the delivery of 18 Photography
and Personal Development Courses lasting
10-weeks each (two courses per term, six per
year) that comprised of tailored activities, the
programme aimed to achieve the following
outcomes for learners:
• increased confidence
• feeling less isolated
• increased resilience
• improved mental health and well-being
The programme aimed
to enrol 72 people
with mental ill health each
year, giving a total of
216 learners over the
three years.
6 7

Evaluation
objectives
The evaluation focused on
the impact of the Pathways to
Resilience Project on the wellbeing
of learners completing programme
over the three years that it ran.
Findings
Changes in Mental Wellbeing Scores
Paired t-tests were conducted on the available
data to analyse the change in WEMWBS scores
over time, between baseline and follow-up.
Figure 1 displays the average WEMWBS scores
for the all 119 participants enrolled on the NPH
programme during the three years that it ran,
and shows an increase of 6.40, from an average
of 18.36 at the beginning of the course to 24.76
at the end of each course.
Comparison of WEMWBS scores over time
showed a statistically significant improvement
in mental wellbeing following completion of the
NPH programme activities (p

Changes in each individual item on the
WEMWBS are presented in Figure 2 and
Table 1. This shows that, as well as an overall
improvement in mental wellbeing, there were
statistically significant improvements for each
item of WEMWBS.
Figure 2: Change in Mental Wellbeing Scores by item (3-year)
4.00
WEMWBS Mean Score
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
2.67
3.61
2.60
3.47
2.46
3.48
2.51
3.40
2.82
3.57
2.48
3.55
2.82
3.67
0.50
0.00
n=119
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7
Before
After
Table 1: 3-year WEMWBS mean scores and level of significance by item
WEMWBS item
1. I’ve been feeling optimistic
about the future
Mean Score
Before
Mean Score
After
t-score
(df)
Significance
(p-value)
2.67 3.61 -9.41 (118) 0.00
2. I’ve been feeling useful 2.60 3.47 -10.10 (118) 0.00
3. I’ve been feeling relaxed 2.46 3.48 -10.74 (118) 0.00
4. I’ve been dealing with
problems well
2.51 3.40 -9.27 (118) 0.00
5. I’ve been thinking clearly 2.82 3.57 -8.79 (118) 0.00
6. I’ve been feeling close to
other people
7. I’ve been able to make up
my mind about things
2.48 3.55 -10.47 (118) 0.00
2.82 3.67 -9.71 (118) 0.00
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This provides evidence that the NPH
programme also reduced isolation (significant
increase in score for item 6 ‘I’ve been feeling
close to other people’), increased confidence
(significant increase in score for items 1 and 2
‘I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future’ ‘I’ve
been feeling useful’) and increased resilience
(significant increase in score for items 4 and 5
‘I’ve been dealing with problems well’ ‘I’ve been
thinking clearly’). The highest change in score
was reported for item 6 (outcome pertaining to
reducing isolation).
See Appendix 2 for overall percentage changes
in WEMWBS scores.
Case Study 2
‘B’, an ex-army veteran in his midforties
suffered Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder due to the experiences he
faced in his army career. He also
cared for his long-term partner who
also had mental health issues which
compounded his stress and made
him feel isolated. He was referred to
us by his occupational therapist who
felt in particular that the external trips
would “get him out the house”.
‘B’ found his niche with photography,
made friends with four others on his
course who subsequently bought their
own cameras and met up regularly
to go on photography field trips after
their course ended. His girlfriend who
participated in a later course now
joins that group on their photography
outings which has dramatically
improved their relationship as they
have a joint interest outside of the
home.
They both joined Scrambles and were
exhibitors in the ‘Off Centre’ Photo
Festival.
Focus Groups
Accessing the course
Participants were asked how they had found
out about the course. The majority had heard
about it through attending a ‘Recovery College’.
While there, they had seen a poster displayed
or spoken with the Photographers’ Hub
programme staff, who attended the college’s
graduation ceremony. Participants had the
course recommended to them by friends who
had completed it in previous years. Others had
seen it advertised, searched for a course on
google or been sign-posted by a healthcare
professional such as a mental health support
worker, a therapist or in one case a GP. Others
mentioned that they had heard about the course
through another group they attended called
‘Nature in Mind’. They also heard about the
course through Opportunities and Change,
Framework, a social worker and the YMCA.
Features of the course
When asked what three things they liked most
about the course, positive responses were
based around the course and how it was
designed. These related to:
• Camera skills
• Trips to take photographs
• Class size and group dynamic
• Facilitators
Camera skills
Taking photos and learning to use a camera was
enjoyed by participants. While some had their
own cameras and through attending the course
had learnt how to use them more effectively,
others felt that they had gained a new hobby.
Participants enjoyed learning the ‘technical’ side
of photography and how to take photographs.
‘Using the camera more inspired me
to take back up photography…I was
really reminded about how I much love
photography…’
‘Learning how to use the lenses of
the camera... it’s taught me to change
different lenses for people’.
Through learning experiences participants
believed that they had developed and grown
in confidence. They could identify how their
photographic skills had progressed from the
first to last lesson. Seeing the exhibition of their
photographs at the end gave participants a
sense of pride in what they had achieved. It was
described by one participant as a ‘real boost’
whilst another stated that they had something to
show for what they had done.
Trips to take photographs
Through the course participants were
challenged by new experiences of taking
photography in different locations via trips out.
Some visited locations in their city that they
had never been before and now had a new
place to visit outside the course. This aspect
of the course design was enjoyed by many.
This was not just because of the enjoyment
of the activities and company of the group
but because of the impact they identified on
themselves, such as improving confidence or
doing things that would have normally not done
as individual.
‘Getting out into nature and noticing
things, it’s a shame it has to end’
Class size and group dynamic
Aspects of the course such as the small class
sizes and how the course was facilitated were
highlighted as key features that were welcomed
and enjoyed by participants. Participants also
said that the course was well-planned, had a
very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere and
was something they looked forward to. The
smaller class sizes enabled participants to get
to know each other and also anticipate who
was attending each week. The consistency
of this was welcomed and unlike other larger
courses they had attended. They believed
12 13

they could come together as a group and
support each other. Many reported that it did
not matter that they were the oldest, youngest
or from different backgrounds, the group
dynamic and the support they gave each other
made the experience of attending the lessons
enjoyable. Some spoke of a wish to volunteer
or set up their own groups to continue taking
photographs. It was said that learning to
socialise and going out was a big step for some.
‘It was mind-blowing, it was really nice
to be out near people again and doing
something you really like doing at the
same time’
‘Everyone talks to each other and
comes together’
‘I’ve met some wonderful people, if you
are not feeling good, everyone knows
and understands’
Some participants had started to socialise
outside the group, and opened this opportunity
up to all people to attend social events, such as
watching a band at a local pub. One beneficiary
spoke about having anxiety about socialising at
this event but after attending reported they had
had a great night.
Case Study 3
‘C’, a woman now in her mid-fifties
was outgoing and extrovert until she
was involved in a car accident which
left her with life-changing injuries
(sight impairment, mobility and
general health difficulties) and severe
depression.
After several years under a
psychiatrist ‘C’ began to take tentative
steps to get back out into the
community and her psychiatrist, who
had recommended previous clients to
us, thought we would be a good fit as
meeting others and the external trips
would help boost her confidence and
help her to feel less isolated.
Hub tutors were able to give particular
advice on how to take photographs
that accommodated her sight
impairment and she was “over the
moon” with those she was able to
exhibit which she said gave her
confidence to try other activities she
thought was closed off to her due to
her disabilities.
Facilitators
The enjoyment of the classes and learning new
skills was enhanced by the way the programme
facilitators acted towards learners. Participants
believed that the programme facilitators were
‘patient’ and created a ‘supportive’ environment
by encouraging them, being patient and
answering questions for them:
‘You have all been so lovely and
encouraging’
‘When I first came, I wasn’t sure about
it, but everyone has given me so much
support’.
Recovery & mental health
Participants believed their confidence had
improved from attending the sessions. This
was not only attributable to their participation
in the activities, but also to doing so in a group
setting, meeting new people and going on trips.
They also reported more confidence in using
a camera. Attending the course was a time for
some where they had time for themselves.
‘…CBT therapist has always been
asking me to do something for
myself, this course allowed me to do
something for myself… (and) … helped
with recovery’
When asked how it helped their mental health,
all responses were positive. Participants
said that the action of attending the course,
enjoying it and seeing others was felt to improve
mental health. It was highlighted that it was
not specifically about mental health, like many
of the other courses they had attended, and
this enabled them to have ‘a chance to be
normal’. However, being with others with shared
experiences who could understand if they were
struggling contributed to the positive experience.
A participant had spoken of a day that they
had been unwell, yet they had still managed
to attend the course. The routine of ‘going
somewhere every week and seeing other
people’ resonated with one group as having a
positive impact on mental health.
Attending the course often had a wider impact
on their day-to-day lives. For example, one
participant spoke about how getting on a
bus and coming into town had been anxiety
inducing, however, this had reduced over the
period of the course, and now managing public
transport was much easier. Several participants
mentioned that before the course they hardly left
their house, but the course got them out of the
house and were more confident in leaving their
house and interacting with people.
Some participants related the action of holding a
camera and taking a photo to their own recovery
because the process taught them to see what
was in front of them in a different perspective.
‘If you are looking through the camera
lens you can divorce yourself from the
situation and look at it in a different
light, so it’s not just photography but
wellbeing’
‘You can’t take photos and be anxious
at the same time, you have to be calm
to take the shot’.
‘It’s very therapeutic; it’s like you’re
composing yourself to achieve
something, that you are looking.’
Participants also reported feeling more positive
about the future and proud of themselves and
others in the course for doing everything they
have been able to do through the course.
Room for improvements
When asked about how the course could be
improved within the limitations of the 10 week
delivery time, most responded by saying that
there were no room for improvements, but they
wished the course was longer. It was suggested
by participants that they wanted a second
course to learn advanced photography skills.
One participant said they would have liked to
learn more in depth about the camera. Another
participant believed that one of the sessions
could have been over two weeks because a
specific task was time consuming; this was
made more challenging due to having mental ill
health:
‘I felt a bit rushed on the editing side.
We would have benefited from another
week….I felt like there was so many
there. I found it difficult to choose.
If you are not 100% it takes you a bit
longer’
Also mentioned was that the location could be
improved as there was not enough parking or
adequate public transport links.
14 15

Forward strategy
Alongside the courses, NPH worked towards
a forward strategy by supporting interested
learners to develop the skills to continue the
project once the funding expired. In the final
year, NPH concentrated on developing this
legacy and the group ‘Scrambles’ was born. The
group meets on the first Monday of every month
and also arranges photography outings – they
meet up at an agreed location and go out and
take photographs. To join the group, people only
need access to a way of taking photos which
could be their mobile phones. The group at the
end of the project had 23 members.
Case Study 4
‘D’, a young woman was prone to
serious panic attacks when away
from home which meant she left
home rarely. She was referred by
Nottinghamshire Social Inclusion
and Well-Being Team and was
accompanied to the course in the first
instance.
After a couple of weeks, she was
able to attend on her own and to
her surprise found the trips really
enjoyable as she could use the
camera as a shield from other people.
She felt “exhilarated” at how well her
exhibition was received which gave
her the confidence and motivation to
pursue other activities.
She regularly supported other
learners by attending their exhibitions
and encouraging them to take
on other activities and is now a
Scrambles member.
Members of Scrambles participated in ‘Off
Centre’ Photo Festival which was Nottingham’s
first independent photo festival aiming to
promote and encourage creative photography
across the East Midlands. It ran from 27
October to 11 November 2018 including during
Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Week. At
that time Scrambles had 12 members and all 12
exhibited. Festival organisers are hoping to run a
similar event around the same time in 2019.
Conclusion
The evaluation found that mental wellbeing
improved after participating in the course. This
was demonstrated by significant improvement
in the WEMWBs scores, both overall as well
as individual items. The improvement in
these individual items further demonstrated
that learners felt less isolated, had increased
confidence and increased resilience.
These findings were further supported by the
Focus Groups in which people described in
more detail how attending the course had not
only given them new skills, but also helped in
their mental health recovery. The impact that
the course had on confidence and reducing
isolation was particularly highlighted. The fact
that a group of ex-learners are still meeting
as the Scrambles group is a testament to the
outcomes achieved, as well as demonstrating
the longer-term legacy of the NPH project.
The NPH staff worked strategically in the
last 12 months of the project to ensure this
sustainability.
NPH is the only provider of free at the point
of delivery photography courses to adults
with mental ill health in the East Midlands.
Case Study 5
‘E’, was a young lesbian with
Borderline Personality Disorder
(BPD) whose mental illness was
compounded by the fact that her
family were Jehovah Witnesses who
felt that being gay was contrary to
their religion.
Her BPD made developing and
maintaining relationships difficult,
but with one-to-one support from a
Hub staff member she completed
her course and showcased selection
of her work. However, she said
what thrilled her and boosted her
confidence and self-esteem was
the attendance of her father at her
exhibition and his glowing praise for
her work.
The Pathway to Resilience Project was hugely
popular and was fully subscribed for each
course, with a waiting list that had to be closed
in December of 2018 due to oversubscription.
However, keeping the courses small in number
was beneficial in helping to nurture learners
and in supporting them in increasing their
confidence. If the courses had expanded to
meet the demand then they would have been
at risk of becoming too intimidating and difficult
to manage. Other key features that supported
the course’s effectiveness were its accessibility
and community setting. People heard about the
course from a number of different sources and
it being located in the community meant that it
was not seen as an institutionalised activity. Any
replication of this project needs to bear in mind
the importance of these features to its success.
16 17

Appendix
Appendix 1: Percentage increase/decrease of WEMWBS scores per item (Year 3)
WEMWBS items Outcome pertaining to Percentage increase/decrease
1. I’ve been feeling optimistic
about the future
Increased confidence Decreased = 3%
Stayed the same = 42%
Increased = 55%
2. I’ve been feeling useful Increased confidence Decreased = 0%
Stayed the same = 42%
Increased = 58%
3. I’ve been feeling relaxed Increased confidence
Reduced isolation
Increased resilience
4. I’ve been dealing with
problems well
Increased confidence
Increased resilience
5. I’ve been thinking clearly Increased confidence
Increased resilience
6. I’ve been feeling close to
other people
7. I’ve been able to make up
my mind about things
Decreased = 6%
Stayed the same = 35%
Increased = 58%
Decreased = 10%
Stayed the same = 22%
Increased = 68%
Decreased = 10%
Stayed the same = 42%
Increased = 48%
Reduced isolation Decreased = 13%
Stayed the same = 19%
Increased = 68%
Increased confidence
Increased resilience
Decreased = 16%
Stayed the same = 19%
Increased = 65%
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Appendix 1: Percentage increase/decrease of WEMWBS scores per item (Year 3)
WEMWBS items Outcome pertaining to Percentage increase/decrease
1. I’ve been feeling optimistic
about the future
Increased confidence Decreased = 3%
Stayed the same = 32%
Increased = 65%
www.institutemh.org.uk
2. I’ve been feeling useful Increased confidence Decreased = 4%
Stayed the same = 30%
Increased = 66%
3. I’ve been feeling relaxed Increased confidence
Reduced isolation
Increased resilience
Decreased = 3%
Stayed the same = 29%
Increased = 67%
4. I’ve been dealing with
problems well
Increased confidence
Increased resilience
Decreased = 9%
Stayed the same = 24%
Increased = 67%
5. I’ve been thinking clearly Increased confidence
Increased resilience
Decreased = 5%
Stayed the same = 36%
Increased = 59%
6. I’ve been feeling close to
other people
Reduced isolation Decreased = 5%
Stayed the same = 28%
Increased = 67%
7. I’ve been able to make up
my mind about things
Increased confidence
Increased resilience
Decreased = 6%
Stayed the same = 29%
Increased = 65%
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