"The service will not only be available in Wales. Requests to run the workshops have come from as far away as Romania and there have been calls to provide help for many of the forgotten animals in the Romanian Zoo crisis.

Vision Quest will be funded by donations, sponsorship, grants and funding from charitable organisations. The idea for the Creative Photography Workshops was formed earlier this year after I returned from a fact finding trip to Romania.

I was in Romania to establish facts about their zoo crisis. I wanted to try and do something to help.

There was very little information, and no one seemed to be interested in what was happening to the hundreds of starving animals.

I have had some success in raising awareness of the problems and now NGOs such as Born Free are actively trying to establish sanctuaries for some of the animals to live in, before it is too late.

After conducting a considerable amount of research I decided to pool my many skills together into one unique package. As well as being a photographer and Associate of the Royal Photographic Society I am also a photojournalist, a qualified mental health nurse and a part-time lecturer in photography at Coleg Powys in Brecon.

After juggling all these different hats for a number of years I felt I had an opportunity to provide a unique service to the community.

The workshops I have developed, utilise the fun and spontaneity of digital photography to help participants familiarise themselves with the creative possibilities of the digital world.

"As the workshops progress, Therapeutic Photography can be introduced using the principles of Image Based Therapy.

I intend to have exhibitions of the work the participants produce. This could provide a valuable source of income for those living in impoverished communities.

I also hope that the exhibitions will encourage participation and raise awareness of the issues faced by the children and people concerned.

Vision Quest plans to use photography as an educational and therapeutic medium to not only develop creativity, but also to promote inner awareness and a broad range of life skills, in a safe, therapeutic and fun environment.

The creative fun of photography will also be a fundamental tool to stimulate the process of breaking down barriers and prejudices that exist between different ethnic groups and communities.

If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities with Vision Quest, please contact Tony Lane on Brecon 01874 665750 or email info@vision-quest.org.uk"

Article written by Tony Lane.

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