Local photographer gets recognition

Grant Read, 47, a formerly homeless man from Bournemouth, has been voted as a runner up by national homelessness charity, Crisis, at this year’s Changing Lives Champion’s Award.

Supported by Barclays, the scheme helps vulnerable homeless people back into education, training and employment. The awards were held in Canary Wharf, London, on 19 October 2009.

Grant was voted as a runner up in the Business category, in recognition of his progress in overcoming homelessness and drug addiction to set up his own photography business.  

He became addicted to cocaine, amphetamine and pills in the early 1990’s. He spent over 15 years working as a project manager but his drug addiction eventually cost him his job. He was diagnosed with a nervous breakdown and depression in 2000 and became homeless in 2004.

He applied for a Crisis Changing Lives Award to buy a camera and is now living in private rented accommodation working as a freelance photographer. He said: “I’ve always loved photography. I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got an opportunity to do something completely different’. The camera is great. It’s my workhorse – it’s what I do everything with.”

His photography business in Bournemouth continues to expand and Grant now supports himself and is successfully managing the transition away from the benefits system. Working more than 60 hours per week, Grant shoots weddings, exhibitions, bands and undertakes assignments for local papers. He has had a number of photographs published in local and national publications and has built good working relationships with customers and suppliers.  

The awards were presented by Caroline Spelman MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Barclays has been supporting the Crisis Changing Lives Awards since 2002. In this time the scheme has provided nearly 1,700 financial awards to people who are homeless or settling into new homes and looking for support to achieve their educational and vocational goals.