LOCAL LAW FIRM HELPING YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SHINE

A groundbreaking partnership between youth charity Soft Touch Arts and law firm Spearing Waite LLP is helping four young people to set up their first photography exhibition.

The group got involved with Soft Touch through the creative projects they offer which give over 1000 disadvantaged young people each year the chance to make art, media and music and develop their skills and talents.

Their interest in photography sparked the idea for an exhibition of photographs inspired by architecture and nature.  The ‘Unrestricted’ exhibition runs from August 24-31st  on the ground floor of the Highcross shopping centre.

Michael Lawrence, a Partner at Spearing Waite, is Soft Touch’s first business mentor.  The scheme aims to give young people contact with the business world by pairing individuals and groups with a mentor to help get enterprising ideas off the ground.
 Soft Touch is looking for more businesses to be partners in the mentoring scheme which is a great way for local companies to demonstrate their commitment to improving the lives of Leicestershire’s young people.

Soft Touch Director, Christina Wigmore says:  
“This is a brilliant opportunity for young people to broaden their horizons and develop their confidence, talent and life experience.  Michael has been a fantastic mentor and the group have risen to the challenge of organising the exhibition and developing skills and knowledge which will help them in the future”

Michael says:
“Spearing Waite has a long history of engaging with the local community and supporting its people. Soft Touch does incredible work with young people in the city and we are proud to have had the opportunity to become involved in its business mentoring scheme. The group involved in the exhibition has shown exceptional enthusiasm and dedication to the task in hand and it has been a pleasure to support them in pursuing and achieving their goals.”
Group member Michael Harkness, aged 17, says:  

“it’s helped us take our work a step further and show what we can do and what we are capable of.  Not many young people of our age get the opportunity to do this kind of thing – it’s a unique experience for us”