Inspiring Images of Social Care: Enter our 2014 charity photo competition

“I can feel the sun, the smell of the sea and hear the laughter in the photo even on this wet, gloomy day in Dorset!” That’s how one of the judges of Community Care’s Inspiring Images competition 2013 described the winning entry, shown above.

The photo of young Alex Olliffe’s holiday, submitted by Ian Callen of supported holiday organisation Go-Provence, showed “joy, freedom and vibrancy” and conveyed “genuine warmth”, according to Community Care’s team of judges.

The lovely photograph also represented the happy, positive and rewarding side of social care that members of the public are shown all too rarely.

After the success of last year’s competition, Community Care and our sponsors Caritas want to find even more inspiring images of social care this year. We want you to show us the moments that remind you why you work in social care. We want to make sure your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed, and we want to showcase the amazing achievements of people who have received social care support.

So, whether you’ve taken a photo at an inspiring event, seen some great service user art or an amazing drawing, why not submit it for a chance to be included in our charity calendar? Here’s everything you need to know about entering the competition…

How to enter

Click on this link to complete our short entry form and email us your pictures. Entry is free.

The deadline for entries is: 9 May 2014. (Winners will be informed by 30 May 2014.)

What we’re after

Put simply – images that inspire you to work in social work or social care. The judging criteria is simple: “does this image make me feel proud to be a social worker?”

You can be as arty and abstract as you want – just add a line on what the picture shows and why you entered it. Pictures can be of social workers and social care professionals, images that symbolise social work – dogs, cups of teas, files, toys, anything you want.

As long as you have permissions, you can also enter pictures of services users – think your day centre lunch, your care home party, your after-school club, or service user art.

We’ll also accept drawings, collages and other images. These can be produced by young people, other service users or professionals themselves. Basically, this is your chance to get creative and showcase your profession in a positive light.

We are also asking entrants to nominate a social care charity of their choice, whose logo will be displayed alongside any winning picture. The calendar will be distributed to thousands of professionals, so this is a great way of raising awareness of the great work done by so many in the sector.

Who can enter?

Anyone who works in social work or social care, or uses their services. You can work in any part of the sector for any organisation – council, charity, private, independent or any other type of social care body.

What about anonymity?

Community Care takes the anonymity of professionals and service users very seriously. Please make sure that if you are identifying a person in a picture that you have their permission do to so. If the person is under 18, or a vulnerable adult, then a parent, carer, guardian or responsible professional must also give permission.

If anonymity is an issue, then be creative and see if there is a way to convey your message without identifying the person. Community Care is happy to offer advice on how best to do this as it’s a challenge we often have to overcome when taking pictures ourselves.

How will the photos be used?

Pictures will be uploaded onto Community Care. Shortlisted entries will be exhibited at Community Care Live at a photographic exhibition on 20 and 21 May 2014.

Winning entries will be used in a 2015 calendar, which will be distributed to social care professionals. All winners will be able to select a charity of their choice, whose logo will be displayed alongside the winning pictures. The person who submits the overall best photo – as voted by the judges – will also get to nominate a social care charity of their choice to receive a £500 donation.

Who are the judges?

Community Care is selecting judges from within social work and social care. Everyone is handpicked by us and chosen for their commitment to the sector.

Copyright

By entering this photo competition, you are granting Community Care all rights to the picture or images. We will only use the pictures in the way described above.

Click here to read the full terms and conditions.