HOW many time in our lives do we utter the words: “Why don’t we?”

It must surely be the most used phrase for people working as a group. We utter it countless times both as children and adults, when trying to work something out or deciding what to do.

And it is the perfect name for an innovative project that encourages individual expression and boosts confidence.

It has at its core, photography - an excellent medium for enabling people to say what they feel in a creative way and to explore issues that impact upon people’s lives.

Led by Bradford-based photographer Tony O’Connell and supported by dedicated volunteers, ‘Why Don’t We?’ helps adults with learning disabilities to express themselves and deliver important messages to others.

"It is a phrase used all the time within our sessions when we are deciding what to do," says Tony. "It embodies the positive approach of participants, and everyone agreed that it fitted out approach."

Hate crime and healthy eating - both of which impact upon the lives of those taking part - are among the issues on which the group is focusing. They have created powerful videos and other online resources surrounding the impact of hate and mate crime, which are being used to raise awareness of this problem.

“We explored why people are targeted just because they are disabled, and how it makes them feel,” says Tony.

To raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating, the men and women meet weekly to prepare and enjoy a healthy lunch, then photograph the meal and it's ingredients to turn into easy-to-use shopping lists. These can be downloaded and used by the wider community.

These projects were made possible through support from West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Safer Communities Fund and Sovereign Healthcare Trust.

Tony was initially recruited six years ago by Bradford District Care Trust’s day care service to run a photography course. It was such a success that the project was extended. The national charity for people with learning disabilities Hft - previously known as Home Farm Trust - later took the reins, and the project also benefitted from an Arts Council grant.

"When I started I thought that I would be teaching photography, but it was really about them using photography as a medium to get their voices heard and develop their confidence and skills, he says. "As a photographer, only a small portion of my time is spent pressing the shutter. The rest is spent researching, organising, processing the images and preparing for exhibition - it involves a wide range of skills so everyone in the group can participate. We look at the individual and at what skills they have got and then put them to use.”

He praises volunteers, in particular Harrie Lerman, for their invaluable help.

Other projects have included Viz-Able, which saw the group undertake commissions to supply images to companies and put together work for exhibitions, and Cottingley Fairies, which the group - whose main base is Cottingley Cornerstone Centre - researched and acted out.

Why Don’t We? recently received funding from the People’s Health Trust for a project ‘People in Focus’, which works on a range of projects using photography to produce learning resources.

Participation is open to adults aged over 18 with learning disabilities, who will decide the issues upon which to focus as well as promoting and marketing the resources produced. These will be downloadable from the website.

Sponsorship and help with projects has also come from organisations and agencies including Bradford Council, the Council’s Shipley Area Committee and Yorkshire Building Society.

Three participants from previous projects have returned to act as mentors for new members.

One of the young adults taking part, Rebecca Robinson, says: “I like learning about photography, how to focus and line up the camera. I enjoy meeting people, interviewing them and putting their photographs in our Book of Faces.”

Adds Fellow group member Louise Hudson: “My job is to look after new members and visitors. I like greeting them and showing them round.”

Says Tony: “The social messages delivered by the group are important in their own right, but, equally, the participants take pride in the photographs themselves,” says Tony. “The thing that fires me up in helping people take pictures is seeing people put them on the wall and look at them with pride – I get a kick out of that.”

*To find out more about Why Don’t We? Contact Tony on 07887 885011 or visit why-dont-we.com