Hero of Photography Award

Amateur Photographer Magazine Editor Nigel Atherton presenting Paul Ryan with the Hero of Photography Award.

It feels boastful to write an article about receiving an award, especially as it's to me personally, but I can't ignore an opportunity to promote what I'm doing and these awards don't happen every year!

I'm proud that I can say that we're being noticed and acknowledged. Especially as the organisation is not from the homelessness charity or social enterprise sector.

I was allowed to bring a guest with me and after asking Cafe Art co-founder Michael Wong we agreed I should take a project participant. Wayne Chin was the obvious choice as he gave his story in the Unseen City short film last year and is not only a MYLONDON participant but a member of the Cafe Art RPS Photography Mentoring Group.

Our relationship with Amateur Photographer (AP) goes back to 2014 when Chris Cheesman, one of their editors, agreed to be a judge on the second annual contest. In 2015 he did it again and his article about the project went viral internationally, resulting in a large number of online supporters ordering the 2016 MYLONDON calendar. Many of the international buyers are still supporting us 10 years later and their support has helped us.

As well as the fulfilling our mission to connect people though photography by holding the annual MYLONDON contest every year and the weekly RPS mentoring group, we also have a goal of paying out profits to the photographers in prize money and sales earnings. That figure is well in excess of £300,000 since 2014.

Thanks to all the MYLONDON buyers again, from London, the rest of the UK and internationally. You really have helped us in a huge way.

Paul Ryan, CEO MYWORLD with Hero of Photography Award

Paul and Wayne at the ceremony

Paul Ryan and Wayne Chin

Thanks to the many people who have helped me along the way, including Michael Wong, Mathew Diamond Nikhil Srinivasan, David Chene, Pierre Bour, Homeless Link, Crisis, the trustees at MYWORLD Creative Projects, Fujifilm UK who have provided disposable QuickSnap cameras since 2013 and also digital cameras free of charge in 2015 and a discount on digital cameras and free extras in 2024, Jessops, St Mungo's, The Connection at St Martins in the Fields, The mentors in the RPS Cafe Art Mentoring Group and many many volunteers over the years and of course the photographers.