To celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee the Ideas Foundation has launched a creative photography campaign in partnership with schools around the UK. 

The ‘Commonwealth of Kindness’ campaign has been designed  to help teach creative skills and give students a voice during the royal celebrations. Launched in partnership with out of home media owner Clear Channel, the campaign will be  displayed on digital advertising screens across the UK in the week leading up to the Jubilee weekend.

As part of the theme ‘Commonwealth of Kindness’ young people nationwide were invited to photograph creative images that celebrate the values that the Queen represents. As part of her Platinum Jubilee Statement earlier this year, The Queen expressed that she wants young people to “have a sense of hope and opportunity.”

“Hope, optimism, neighbourhoods and communities are key to this celebration year,” echoed Heather MacRae, CEO of the Ideas Foundation. “We look forward to seeing these images, words and pictures from young people on digital screens across the country that celebrate The Queen’s values of kindness, commonwealth, and inclusivity.” 

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant chose the Ideas Foundation to launch a creative brief for UK students across the country to get them involved in the royal celebrations.

Schools and colleges from across the country, in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Somerset, London, Leeds and Manchester, participated in the project. Students aged 11-19 took part in various digital storytelling workshops to help them answer the creative challenge.

The series of workshops were hosted by leading creatives including Canon Ambassador Clive Booth, Canon volunteers Dean Hodgson and Martin Diamond, Ideas Foundation Founder Robin Wight and supported by Peter Thomas from the National Association for the Teaching of English. Students were also offered Canon equipment to take photographs, later to be used as digital posters.

Schools and Colleges that took part: 

North Yorkshire

• George Pindar School
• Eskdale School #Communitea
• Caedmon School
• Graham School #CelebrateTheCrown 
• Whitby Sixth Form

Cumbria

• Beacon Hill Community School, Aspatria #ARoyalToast
• Whitehaven Academy #JubileeRhapsody
• Solway Community School #HoppyAnniversary #RoyalColouringBook

Leeds

• Leeds City College

Manchester

• The Manchester College. #NationOfHope 

Somerset

• Bridgwater and Taunton College
• Stanchester Academy
• Bridgwater College Academy #FriendshipIsKingQueen 
• Robert Blake
• Haygrove School

Derbyshire

• Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne. #WaveOfLove 

London  

• The Amos Bursary Trust #CrowningCareers 

“We are still buzzing from the workshop.” added Laura Gaston, Director of Learning – Literacy and Oracy Lead from Whitehaven Academy. “It was an absolute privilege to work with so many creative professionals and we saw our students' potential and creativity in new ways. The project was multi-layered, so students were able to develop ideas, use cameras, work as teams, create copy and think about what makes their community special.”

10 winning images will be proudly displayed on Clear Channel’s digital Out of Home screens across the country over the next week, to give a voice to students during the celebrations.