Positive View was created in 1994 by Andrew Page as his personal philanthropic project to help raise funds that supported the development of the Chickenshed theatre in North London - which uses the performing arts to support disadvantaged young people.

Positive View Foundation was launched as a charity in its own right during 2012.

Andrew Page
Diptych created by HRH Prince William, Royal Patron of 
“Taking a Positive View” 2010 and Geoff Hubb.

To do this he organised a major photography exhibition featuring international vintage and contemporary photography donated by some of the world’s most respected photographers.

The two-month exhibition was held at the Saatchi Gallery in London and the exhibits were later auctioned by Sotheby’s with the proceeds being donated to Chickenshed.

The Royal Patron of the project was HRH Diana, Princess of Wales and sixteen years later her son, HRH Prince William took a similar role when the concept was revisited to raise funds for an innovative, life-changing photography project benefiting Crisis, the UK’s leading homeless charity. On this occasion over £500,000 was raised through a gala auction hosted by Christie’s.

Both exhibitions attracted: 5-star national media coverage; extensive features in weekend colour supplements; and extensive coverage on broadcast channels and social media platforms. 

Since 1994, Andrew Page has worked for over 20 years with disadvantaged young people through Fairbridge (now part of the Prince’s Trust), the Foyer Federation and the leading homeless charity, Crisis. During this time he recognized the urgent need to provide high quality, open access youth services on Inner London’s most disaffected estates which, until then, had been largely ignored. 

Driven by this conviction and with the support of founder patrons, HRH Prince William, Sir David Tang and Lady Elena Foster, he launched Positive View Foundation as a charity in its own right during 2012.

Aims and objectives

Aims

Positive View Foundation is a unique charity that supports the most deprived 16–25 year olds living on our most challenging estates - their upbringing having led them to negative consequences, both for themselves and others amongst their community.

Positive View’s innovative, and highly effective, ‘Youth Empowerment Programme’ uses photography and film to successfully lead these highly vulnerable young adults into further education, training, employment, or community voluntary work – and out of a vicious circle of family disintegration, gang violence, crime, and drugs.

Objectives

To achieve this, it is vital we listen to those whom we support – enabling these young people to ‘own’ their project. Our objective is to involve and consult young people so that we may understand the personal issues they themselves want to tackle: by being personally involved in planning the content of each 10-week project; by taking a peer-to-peer approach: and by developing and promoting the passion and commitment to build a positive and self-fulfilling future life.

Values

We aim to be pioneering, significant, celebrated, effective, life-changing, transparent and accountable. By constantly measuring ourselves against these values, we ensure our approaches are consistent with who we are and how we wish to be seen by others.

The Westminster Foundation is proud to support Positive View’s ‘Youth Empowerment Programme’ in Westminster, over a period of five years. The programme uses photography to enrich vulnerable young lives, raise aspirations and break down barriers to intergenerational inequality. In 2019 the Foundation commissioned photography from this cohort of young people and witnessed first-hand the remarkable transformation and growth that is possible through intensive support and mentoring.

Tom Mansell, Grants Director Westminster Foundation