'SPLASH & GRAB' AND 'TRIP' MAGAZINE FEATURE 'A DAY AT THE RACES' // /  by sophie green

See more here ---> http://splashandgrab.co.uk/ and here ---> http://tripmag.co.uk/a-day-at-the-races/

MY VICE 'PICTURE PERFECT' DOCUMENTARY IS OUT NOW ---> /  by sophie green

I started 2015 with a very exciting collaboration with Vice. They've been filming me as part of their documentary series called 'Picture Perfect’ which broadcasts on Vice.com.

See me step in front of the lens as Vice follow me shooting my projects 'Bangers & Smash' and 'Tomorrow's People'.

Check it out here ---> http://www.vice.com/en_uk/video/picture-perfect-sophie-green

HAPPY ACCIDENTS // /  by sophie green

THE SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE // /  by sophie green

Bangers & Smash got published in The Sunday Times Magazine...

Tomorrow's People - Exhibition Prints // /  by sophie green

Over the last two months I've been working intensively on a portrait project for the charity; Tomorrow's People. I've had 18 shoots in all four corners of the country. This work will form an exhibition for the charity which will run through out 3 major fundraising and political campaigning events over the next 6 months. I hope this series will raise awareness of the incredible work the charity does and to also give recognition to the amazing, personal and unique stories of each individual. Big happy proud smiles from me. Thank you c_p_i for the amazing prints.

Tomorrow's People - Steven // /  by sophie green

"Over the years I, like most people, have had a few issues to overcome - death, break down of relationships and unemployment. I had a job where I was earning good money, I’d obtained a mortgage, bought a home, I was king of my castle, it was a nice place and I felt content. Then I lost my job, it was just free fall for the next few years. After around three years of juggling to stay afloat, I obtained another full time job and it was a job that I enjoyed immensely, I met a fantastic woman and things started to get back onto an even keel; once more my life was filled with joy, laughter and excitement. This was short lived as my relationship faded and we drifted apart. When I met her it was as if somebody lit a match and the fireworks had begun, I miss that time in my life. My job was lost again; that's when things got really dark, there were times I wish I could be swallowed up by the world and that my pain and hurt would stop; my thoughts were as dark as you could imagine. Everything had gone for good this time and I had no more fight in me.

Then I moved into supported and sheltered accommodation, the residents there have a whole host of issues. If I'm honest I felt embarrassed being there, thinking how and why am I here, I had a house and job, what's happened?

I then met my Tomorrow’s People coach, Phil, and now my real journey into becoming a person again starts. This was a focal point on my road to recovery and I’m glad to say Phil is a good friend to me now and I couldn't have done this journey without him. The future is unknown but I’d like to be happy, financially secure, with a lovely partner and maybe some miniatures running around. Before long I will have the strong foundations to be able to build the dream life I want but I couldn't do this without Tomorrow’s People and their strong network and the influence they had on me to say ‘I do matter, I can do this’."

Portrait // Steven, Liverpool. 38.

Portrait // Steven, Liverpool. 38.

Tomorrow's People - Charlotte // /  by sophie green

"I think I can say that I have felt every possible emotion that a young person can go through. I’ve been happy, sad, confused, heartbroken, lost and hurt. I was bullied at school. It took everything out of me. I was so upset and crying all the time. I just wanted to end my life because it wasn’t worth living. I wish I had stuck up for myself more but I didn’t have the confidence. I didn’t understand why I was getting bullied, I didn’t understand what I had done wrong to deserve it. It put me off wanting to meet people my own age because most of them weren’t nice to me.

I think if you have problems you should talk about it straight away because then you’re not constantly on edge and worried. It makes me feel good that I can help people and talk to them about my experiences and how I helped my situation and it might inspire them to want to do something about theirs. I am able to act as a role model now and say ‘I know how you feel’. I hope it can make them feel like they could speak up. I love helping people, that’s why I want to be a policewoman.

I’m in a much better place than I was all those years ago. If I hadn’t been bullied in school and if I didn’t leave college when I did, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I am so proud of myself for achieving so much. My favorite quote is: “Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game.” This quote taught me that even if people are being negative to you don’t let it stop you doing what you want.

My journey being at Tomorrow’s People has been amazing; I have had the best time meeting new people and now I have more confidence than I ever thought possible. For the first time in a very long time people have accepted me for who I am and not judged me. Tomorrow’s People taught me that it’s ok to be who you want to be. They were patient, positive and honest with me. I’m back in college and in a job that I love, so thank you to everyone who helped me come this far. It means the world."

Portrait // Charlotte, Brighton. 19.

Portrait // Charlotte, Brighton. 19.

Tomorrow's People - Devin // /  by sophie green

"I started smoking weed at a young age, I fell into the wrong group of friends, started committing offences, robbing motorbikes and sheds. I then got into harder drugs - speed, coke then the new drug methadrone came out, I would go on binges where I didn’t eat or sleep for days, even weeks sometimes. I was even paranoid to leave the house. A driving offence led me to being put on tag and working with probation, having regular meetings and weekly drug testing.

I then signed up for Tomorrow’s People. I found it hard at first but they made me feel very welcome, they always had time for me, helped me in whatever way they could, they would praise me on a weekly basis for staying off the drugs and being a better person. I made some new friends there and finally cut myself off from the negative people in my life.

I am now volunteering for the British Heart Foundation, I’m really enjoying it, I feel such a better person. My next step will be to secure a paid job. I want to become a mentor because I feel I can relate to and support people with similar experiences and make them realise that it’s not the way forward taking drugs and they don’t have to carry on having an addiction - there is support and help out there, you just have to take the first step. I have changed my life around and it’s a much better life. I want to help others get though their hard times in life I guess."

Portrait // Devin, Lowestoft. 24.

Portrait // Devin, Lowestoft. 24.

I photographed an amazing guy called Devin in Lowestoft who has the most incredible but sad stories. Devin has had support from the charity, Tomorrow's People for 2 months now and has completely turned his life around. I shot him in the alley way behind the house he grew up in. Devin thought I was such a weirdo because I liked the washing lines so much. When the shoot finished he went and told his mum that I had taken pictures of the washing lines and he thought it was because I didn't have any where I was from.

Tomorrow's People - Donna // /  by sophie green

"My deafness was found when I first started pre-school - I was diagnosed as profoundly deaf and told there was nothing they could do for me. I was fitted with two hearing aids and then I had to attend a school for the deaf. As I was growing up with my brothers and sisters, I felt like an outsider because I went to a different school. I lacked confidence in myself, I always thought people where looking at me because I was deaf. Throughout my life I have been discriminated against, one of my past employers told me that ‘if I had know your hearing was so bad, I wouldn’t have employed you’.

When my marriage broken down six years ago my confidence was knocked right down once again and I felt very lonely. Thankfully I have my daughter but I went through a bad time with her a couple of years ago and she went back to live with her dad in Manchester. I still have days where I break down crying as I miss her so much. Pain is hard to explain, it’s not been easy for me.

When I found out about Hearing Dogs for the Deaf I got in touch with them and I was matched with Kizzy in 2011; she has done wonders for my self-esteem. I couldn’t imagine life without her; she makes me so happy. Every morning I look forward to starting our day together, she jumps on my bed and touches me with her paw when my alarm clock goes off. She is the first best friend I have ever had in my life.

Last year I decided to do something with my life because it felt empty without my daughter. I was put in touch with Tomorrow’s People who helped me to get on different training courses that have got me where I am now volunteering for the Stroke Association as a Communications Support Volunteer. I also do presentations and talks on the Deaf Association’s Hearing Dog Programme. Tomorrow’s People have helped me a great deal. I have now got a new life with an amazing boyfriend and his family too. I am very happy that my life has turned around."

Portrait // Donna, Liverpool. 47.

Portrait // Donna, Liverpool. 47.