By Tom Green

In 2005 Glyn Edmunds spent 21 days photographing listed buildings. Glyn is a professional photographer, but this assignment was as a volunteer for Images of England, a project being run by English Heritage.

"I got involved back in 1999 via the Royal Photographic Society," Glyn explains. "English Heritage came there to get the project started and it seemed like an interesting idea."

Glyn, who had recently retired from his main career, put in about 18 days in the first year, rising to 32 in 2001. By the end of 2005 he had taken more than 1,000 pictures.

"I've met some really interesting people," he says, "and been to places you would either never go to or else just whizz past in the car. It's amazing what you can see on foot."

Glyn is one of more than 4,000 volunteers who have been involved with the project since it started in 1999. It was conceived by the National Monuments Record Centre, the public archive of English Heritage, to help with the plan to make Government records accessible to all - Images of England is creating and making available, via the internet, a 'point-in-time' photographic record of England's listed buildings.

Defining images

The volunteer photographers can get a lot out of it themselves, says Amanda Farr from Images of England. "They improve their knowledge of their local area and are contributing to an important historical record. Plus, there is the challenge of producing the one 'defining image' of the listed building and the satisfaction of seeing their photographs on the website."

Volunteers don't have to be professionals, but they are expected to be good photographers. "They are fully briefed on what is required before they start," Amanda explains. "And we have a group of Images Selectors who are specially trained in what standard and quality of images to accept for the website."

As Glyn Edmunds says, one of the main attractions is being part of a landmark project. "This is the first time a photographic survey has been held on listed buildings - my pictures could still be on the web in 50 years time."

art + power

"I studied art and Philosophy at University and College for six years," says Jon Bowler, "but the art fell away for some years after I graduated, while I decided what direction I wanted my life to lead."

After a year doing care work, Jon started a job in a daycentre, teaching people with learning difficulties. "I was so impressed by the artwork that the students produced that I began making art again for myself," Jon says. "I discovered the art + power website and was really impressed by the artwork and high quality and standards of the group. Fortunately for me, I got in contact during the first year that art + power were looking for volunteers."

art + power is a membership-led arts organisation of disabled people. "The majority of our members are people with learning difficulties," says Joanne Goldsworthy, the General Manager, "so I ask volunteers to consider how you support a person's access to the arts without unduly influencing, instructing or taking over."

Volunteers' motivations vary, but for many, Joanne says,  it is a chance to do something worthwhile and at the same time get valuable experience in the arts. "From the feedback I've had the volunteers enjoy the interaction with the members. It shows them a new and different view of the arts and how inclusion is such an important issue."

Benefits to the organisations

The benefits to the organisation are clear. "Our volunteering programme has enabled people to have individual assistance," Joanne says, "be it in a workshop, accessing information or visiting art shops. We have noticed this is promoting a greater amount of individual work, independence and people taking control of what they want to achieve. It also allows the staff team to be developing members' ideas and desires, working more on future development and providing staff with assistance for all those things that would otherwise never get done!"

Most of Jon Bowler's volunteering is at the weekends. "Once a month, I open up Art and Powers' studio space in Spike Island to allow members of art + power access to the studio during the weekend," he explains. "The members work independently on their own work. My role is to take responsibility for the studio space during that time, making sure it is opened on time, locked up at the end of the day etc. I am also there to offer support if the members need it and I am available to offer advice or suggestions when required. I also work alongside the members and enjoy discussing ideas or comparing techniques used in art."

Jon has also been involved in two major art + power projects. One relates to the creation of a series of drawings and paintings celebrating the life, work and achievements of Brunel to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birthday. The other is based around the Bristol Museum's current art exhibition about texture and techniques in painting.

"I'm looking forward to helping with more art + power projects in the future," Jon says. "In the long term I would eventually like to specialise in running my own art workshops, and the volunteering I am doing at the moment should be useful experience."

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