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Winter 2020Jolly Josh - a portrait of families in lockdown

A local charity that hosts stay and play sessions for children with disabilities and special needs in Rochdale, Jolly Josh continued to ‘connect and support’ its families during lockdown with a unique photography project.

Jolly Josh portrayed the reality of children with complex medical needs during a pandemic through photo galleries posted on social media.

Founder Carole Kelly, from Wardle, teamed up with award-winning photographer Asia Burill for the project, capturing the beautiful moments through glass.

Carole said: “I decided that we could make this project relevant to our charity and to our families and, in doing so, it would be a reminder to the public and the powers that be that our families are existing behind completely closed doors. It also reminded people of the importance of us shielding our vulnerable ones.

“We have realised how much power the photography project has had within representing our families within our community and within our society as a whole in what they are, unfortunately, not often represented.”