Through these portraits, P.O.V. hopes to shine a spotlight on issues that rural young people are facing every day including; mental health, rural isolation, identity and racism.
Scroll through the portraits to learn more about these interesting, inspiring and insightful 14-25-year-olds.
Photos by Esther Pandeli Photography, Martha Grubb, and Cameron.
At Meet the Decision Makers: Meet the Future - a creative morning at Leominster Library in October 2023 - young people who had taken part in P.O.V.’s Rural Voice Collective Action project, who had explored activism and local action, met with local councillors to talk about creating change where they live.
"I have to walk through an unlit park to go to my youth group and I walk the long way around, so I feel safer. I want more Meet the Decision-Makers events to continue raising issues surrounding female safety and catcalling in Leominster.'
Stef, Councillor. "I was heartened and inspired to listen to all these amazing young people who gave up their Saturday morning. I heard their opinions and experience loud and clear and have taken away that they don’t feel they have an adequate voice in council decisions, they are deeply worried about climate change, and feel there are insufficient resources for things like mental health and youth centres - vital to helping them feel safe and supporting them and their families."
"Part time work is difficult to find in Herefordshire, though I’ve been involved in lots of fun volunteer events where I’ve made great friends."
"Meet the Decision Makers allowed a very positive conversation to take place, and got the right minds in the right place”.
"I feel young people need to be provided better services: college students shouldn’t need to pay extra for bus services where public transport doesn’t run, and parks should be upgraded."
"I believe the community spirit of Herefordshire makes the county special – everyone knows everyone."
Dan, Councillor. "I took up this position to contribute to the public service without needing the bravery of a police officer or soldier! I find being a councillor so rewarding."
Carole, Councillor. "Meeting with young people from Hereford, Leominster and Wigmore gave me an opportunity as a councillor to get a more holistic view of what is important to young people across the County both in rural, town and city settings. It was good to hear that most felt safe in the area they lived but that they felt there was little for them to do of an evening or week end and that a significant number upon completing their education were likely not to choose to return to Herefordshire as they felt it lacked economic opportunities."
"If Leominster had its way it would still be in the 1900s; the town doesn’t like change.”
Sarah, Councillor. "Young People make amazing contributions when they are given opportunity and encouragement through empowering methods."
"I want car speed limits reduced on the tiny lanes in my village."
"I think streets need better lighting to feel safer when walking home in the dark."
"I’ve met lots of great friends through youth groups. I think Herefordshire needs more funding for cultural diversity education – there’s a lot of ‘sameness’ in the county."
"I was very surprised to learn that Hereford Council has no youth agenda or budget for engagement with young people in the county. I look forward to seeing improvements in services from the conversations started at Meet the Decision Makers."
"I don’t think I see my future in Herefordshire due to lack of opportunities here."
"I want to use my position as Junior Mayor to raise awareness of lacking mental health services for young people."
Elle, Social Media creator for Rural Media. "They didn’t shy away from the opportunity to tell their councillors what the youth of Herefordshire need."
"Meet the Decision Makers reassured me that people are supporting and actively listening to the young people in Herefordshire – it feels like the start of change."
Heavy is the Head
These portraits feature the young people who took part in a project called Heavy is the Head which explored responsibility and civic duty. Tap here to read more about the project which responded to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Images by Esther Pandelli. Text by Toni Cook and Lola Cook.
Murphy
Ava
Fin
Izzy
Aaron
Aleiha
Amanda
Bella
Courtnie
Danielle
Candice
Charlie
Hallie
Daniel
Harry
Harvey (right)
Logan
Molly
Ioan
Islay
Jazzy
Jess
Katy
Keira
Phoebe
Lauren
Nathan
Sophie
Liam
Jack
Martyn
Millie
Naomi
Olivia
Ruby
Steven
toby
Zoe
“I don’t like the mindset that some Herefordians have as I feel like it holds them back.”
Flynn
“I’ve always lived in Hereford, I think it’s a nice setting and everyone’s friendly.”
Ben
“There’s loads going on in Kington, people are really surprised from somewhere so small how much is going on.”
Kate
“Living in Hereford limits the number of opportunities that young people in larger cities may have access to.”
Lola
“One thing I love about living in Hereford is the sense of community and how accessible the countryside is.”
Becky
“Everybody knows everybody which is nice to have that community feel.”
Katie
“It would be lovely to have something like a version of Livewire that is for older musicians.”
Molly
“Being a young person here I have enjoyed the overall atmosphere more. As a young black woman however, Hereford has been a new experience definitely and not always in a good way.”
Sade
“Hereford is good and bad, but it needs more funding.”
Jeremy
“Hereford’s not so different from Cambridge, it’s more rural, it’s really nice here and great for long walks and runs.”
Max
“Many people in Hereford do not view the arts as a viable career especially for a young person.”
Harvey
“I would probably see myself living here as I’ve grown up here all my life, so to me it’s home.”
Paigon
“Hereford is a unique place – it is a mixture of quite beautiful and bland.”
Levi
“Living in the middle of nowhere you can’t do anything, the buses are terrible, you need to be able to drive. My driving test was cancelled due to COVID because apparently the car was too dirty.”
Sophie
“Herefordshire has given me a great foundation, a great start in life.”
Will
“An amazing thing about Hereford is that I have access to Close House.”
Olly
“Benefits of living in Hereford is that I get to learn a lot of new things from being involved with 2FacedDance.”
Owen
“I see a lot of substance abuse in the youth community due to a lack of accessible activity for young people.”
Charlie
“I love how rural Herefordshire is and how easy it is to get into the countryside, but this is also probably the biggest challenge.”
Laura
“I also aspire to mentor coaches within the surrounding counties to support development of football for all.”
Luke
“To live in the beautiful old scholar house, a stone’s throw from the Wye and the Bartonsham Meadows, it really is a world of difference from the urban landscape I’m used to – it’s a wonderful contrast.”
Charlotte
“My frustrations around Hereford involve the local council.”
Brandan
“The advantages of living and working in Hereford are that you can walk five minutes out of town and be in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.”
Cameron
“One of the challenges of living in Herefordshire is that you can be sheltered from a variety of opportunities that young people in bigger cities may have.”
Emily
“Moving away from home has made me appreciate the countryside that Herefordshire has. I don’t think I’ll live here again but it’s a nice place to come back to for a break.”
Lucy
“Having always lived in Ledbury, I think it’s been a safe place to grow up although now there’s not a lot of opportunity to do much and it needs more diversity.”
Fin
“Having lived in Bromyard all my life, I enjoy the close knit community and the feeling of belonging.”
Lottie
“I feel a pressure to leave Hereford and get out of my hometown but I have no real reason or desire to.”
Harry
“There’s not much diversity in Hereford, it’s pretty dead.”
Kisu
“I’m happy that I grew up here exploring the countryside as I wouldn’t have had access to the same freedom in a bigger city.”
Will
“Particularly living in a village outside of Hereford, public transport isn’t great with irregular times and high costs.”
Sophie
“In the future, I hope to move back home and get work at Warwick Castle as a live action blacksmith.”
Toby
“Playing in this wonderful building on one of the finest organs in the UK, if not the world, is such a privilege.”
Hector
“I just want him to be strong, powerful and have everything he needs.”
Tia
“The council should make decisions and bend over backwards on behalf of the young people like they are their own children.”
Maz
“I have been training at South Wye Boxing for over a year now and I completely love how everyone there is welcoming and full of advice, both instructors and the people I train with.”
Krys
“As a young gay woman growing up in Herefordshire I wanted to have an influence on the conservative attitudes of the city.”
Izzy
“It’s quite backwards like it hasn’t caught up with everywhere else which is good and bad, it’s like a bubble living in Hereford and it can be a shock when you go elsewhere.”
Lily
“My only regret is not finding South Wye Boxing at a younger age!”
Zac
“The best thing about Hereford is the opportunities I have here that I never had in Blackpool. But at the same time they don’t have a lot of jobs going especially for young people.”
Nathan
“I’ve always been told to aim high so that’s my motto.”
Alex
“I like the countryside and the walks I am able to go on, in and around Herefordshire.”
Evie
“Benefits of living in Herefordshire, having the countryside and river practically on your doorstep.”
Sam
“The challenges of living in Herefordshire are not being able to high-street shop due to all the shops being empty.”
Ruby
“I think the new University will be a great boost for the demographic of Hereford offering a way for retaining young people within the county.”
Robert
“Bromyard is a lovely place to live but there isn’t a great variety of things to do, not many clubs or youth centres to make children more comfortable, without the youth theatre I could be quite isolated.”
Caitlin
“In cities, there’s more of a buzz and an atmosphere of stuff happening around you constantly. Whereas in Hereford you don’t have that same feeling, it’s much more relaxed.”
Yanotai
“I am currently on my gap year before going onto further study. I love photography and look forward to using the portraits I’ve taken for this project to extend my skills.”
Esther
