At Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), we are committed to developing partnerships within our community, working with businesses and organisations that share our mission and create value within Plymouth.
One organisation we work closely with is YMCA Plymouth. As part of this partnership, our Communities and Partnerships Manager, Rachael Fox, has recently taken part in a mentoring programme, supporting Olivia, an aspiring photographer, as she works towards developing her own photography business.
Rachael has been volunteering her time to regularly meet with Olivia, offering advice and guidance to support her business ambitions and professional development.
With Rachael’s support, Olivia has made huge strides towards achieving her goal and has even developed her own brand, Delphi Grain. Describing her photography, Olivia said:
“My work is driven by a love for vivid colour, intricate details, and authentic human connection. Whether building bold visual concepts in the studio or on location, collaborating in community photography projects, I treat every shoot as a creative journey of discovery.”
Last Friday, as part of the mentoring programme, Rachael attended Olivia’s photography exhibition, where Olivia showcased her most recent project, Afterglow, at City Farm House on Union Street.
Rachael Fox, Communities and Partnership Manager at Plymouth Community Homes said:
I was interested in the mentoring programme because I wanted to do something valuable with my Make a Difference Days. Having started my career in youth work, I know how important it is to support young people to navigate challenges and opportunities.
I began mentoring a group of four girls, and over the summer Olivia reached out for support with developing her photography business. She is incredibly motivated, has a clear sense of direction and has worked so hard to bring her vision to life, which is an amazing achievement at just 17. I’m looking forward to continuing to support Olivia and seeing what she achieves next.
To provide some further support on Olivia’s journey, Rachael, with the help of PCH’s community funding, gifted Olivia her first-ever business cards.
Olivia, Founder of Delphi Grain added:
I was so grateful to receive my first business cards. It feels great to have taken that first step towards expanding my business, and I’m hoping they’ll help me make new contacts as I put myself out there in the creative industry.
The mentoring process has been really beneficial for me. I was lucky to have two mentors, Rachael Fox and Jamie House, who have both played a valuable part in supporting me.
We wish Olivia every success as she continues to develop Delphi Grain and pursue her ambitions, and we’re proud to have played a small part in supporting her journey. If you want to explore more of Olivia’s work you can check out her website here.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in the YMCA mentoring programme, you can discover more here.
