The Wimbledon Foundation’s striking free self-guided photography exhibition Champions of Merton and Wandsworth will be on display at Battersea Power Station from 8 to 27 October.
The collection of 10 portraits by photographer Ben Queenborough celebrates remarkable people from the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth and will be displayed inside the iconic Grade II* listed Power Station. It was commissioned by the Wimbledon Foundation, the charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships to shine a spotlight on everyday heroes in the local community.
Local residents featured in the exhibition include George Turner and Teresa Harris who have both been inspired to set up local charities. George is the co-founder of Carney’s Community, a Battersea-based charity that since 2011 has helped thousands of young people living in Wandsworth and surrounding areas to turn their lives around through boxing and mentoring. George said: “Seeing how unfair life can be for people is what drives me, plus the ability of those who’ve not been given a fair chance, who just need a bit of support and belief. I’m here to provide long-term, consistent and unconditional support, and help each young person be the best that they can be.”
Teresa Harris founded Learn to Love to Read in 2014, a Wandsworth-based literacy charity supporting children who are finding learning to read challenging and equipping parents to offer support at home. Teresa said: “Reading can transform the life chances of children growing up. Research by Book Trust has found that reading for pleasure in the early years has four times more impact on a child’s progress by the age of 16 than parental education or socioeconomic status. Reading opens so many doors, and I’m passionate about those doors being opened to as many people as possible.”
Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said: “Supporting charities and community groups in Merton and Wandsworth has been at the heart of the Wimbledon Foundation’s work since we began in 2014. Each year, we support around 100 organisations in the two boroughs bringing us into contact with inspirational people making an extraordinary contribution to our local community.
“These are people who would never seek the spotlight themselves and so, through Champions of Merton and Wandsworth, we want to celebrate these amazing individuals and shine a light on the difference that they, and hundreds of others just like them, make to the lives of people in our community. We hope the exhibition will leave residents feeling inspired that there is so much good in the world, especially right here on our doorstep.”
