AN art group for creatively-minded young people in Bradford is appealing for new members to sign up.

New Focus, a photography group for young people aged 16 to 25, is run by Impressions Gallery in City Park is aiming to attract more members.

New members will be able to bring different interests and perspectives to the group which will help shape meaningful projects in the future.

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Prospective members need to be living, studying or working in Bradford, and be able to attend regular meetings of New Focus.

This year will eighth year the project has run, and has helped more than 100 young people develop photography skills and connections in the industry.

As a member of the group, young people will be able to meet like-minded individuals and work as part of a team, working directly with the public at events and gain customer service skills.

They will also be able to work with the team at Impressions Gallery, and build links with professional photographers and other professionals across the sector.

Other key skills which will be coached include project management, leadership and communication, as well as allowing their creativity to blossom and have fun doing something they love.

The aim of New Focus is to help members achieve their creative potential and gain essential skills.

Jennifer Sobol, learning and New Focus manager at Impressions Gallery, said: “New Focus has been running since 2012 and over the past seven years has supported more than 100 young people in Bradford to gain the skills and confidence needed to develop some really distinctive projects.

“It’s incredible to see young people’s confidence grow, by showing them how their ideas can produce ground breaking projects that inspire other young people in the city.

“New Focus alumni have gone on to work for organisations such as Tate Liverpool, Magnum Photos and the BBC. I’m really excited to meet other young people in Bradford to help them discover their creative potential.”

Recent successful projects run by New Focus include the piece titled ‘No Man’s Land: Young People Uncover Women’s Viewpoints on the First World War’.

The group received more than £30,000 of Lottery funding for the project, working with The Peace Museum and Imperial War Museum to investigate images taken by women who worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, photographers and peace campaigners during the conflict.

The success of the project led to the group being one of only 12 projects selection from more than 2,000 across the country to be invited to a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons.

Ione Collins, a member of New Focus, was part of the group that created a book in the project.

She said: “New Focus has given me a new focus in life.

“Being part of New Focus has been paramount in the growth of my confidence, and I’ve gradually felt more able to put myself into situations I otherwise wouldn’t have considered.

“New Focus allowed me to express myself outside of school and I’ve suddenly realised I have many more skills and qualities than I thought I had. Playing a key part in creating a book was the perfect opportunity to uncover those skills.”

Young people have until Wednesday, February 20, to apply for the group, and to apply visit impressions-gallery.com