WHO WE ARE

In Focus Education and Development is a Southampton-based charity that helps young people connect, grow, and thrive through creativity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.​

WHAT WE DO

With our shared passion and experience in photography and the visual arts, we encourage, teach, and empower people to create positive change that lasts well beyond In Focus. We create safe spaces for everyone to express themselves freely, build confidence, wellbeing and social connection, and develop skills for life and work.

OUR VISION

We want to see a world where everyone feels safe and confident to express themselves creatively — where differences are recognised as strengths, everyone gets the chance to shine, and we raise each other up, together.

OUR VALUES

INCLUSIVITY

To be inclusive, fair and equitable in everything we do. In Focus is a safe space for everyone. We are committed to removing barriers to access, being adaptable and making any adjustments needed.

GROWTH

To offer high-quality creative learning that supports the development of the people and communities we work with, building confidence and pro-social connectivity. Provide opportunities and pathways for young people to collaborate and progress, including into work.

RESILIENCE

To support the development of creative wellbeing skills, helping young people to develop confidence and agency. This also means supporting communities to connect and become stronger, and working as an organisation to grow our own resilience and sustainability.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF IN FOCUS:

IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S WORDS...

Testimonials

“I attend every week. These arts and photography sessions have been profoundly therapeutic for me. They offer a meaningful escape from the stress and anxiety I experience while adjusting to new circumstances as a refugee.”
Young Participant
Young ParticipantParticipant of our sessions for displaced young people seeking sanctuary
“She’s done things she’d never get to do at school or at home. She struggles with socialisation and bullying. She’s actually smiling…we don’t get that at home!”
A Foster Parent
A Foster ParentFrom the Hampshire-Wide Youth Justice Project
“I saw creative industry roles advertised with various organisations, but I found that In Focus stood out for me. It was the resounding message of inclusion, their mission, their work and the impact they have on the community. Also, the fact it’s run as an inclusive space with neurodivergence and LGBTQIA+ people in mind really led me to apply.”
Breakthrough scheme participant
Breakthrough scheme participantYoung person on work placement
“Thank you to In Focus for providing me with a safe weekly space to develop, not only my creativity in ways I couldn’t have imagined, but to help me maintain my mental health and wellbeing enough to actually keep taking part.”
Young Participant
Young ParticipantWednesday group attendee
“For the last year and a half, I have been a participant in the Tuesday DSLR group for young LGBT+ people. In Focus has become a chosen family that supports me in chasing my dreams. Since joining, my artwork has featured in eight exhibitions across a range of disciplines, and I have never felt more connected to other artists or more empowered to be myself.”
Youth Leadership Group Member
Youth Leadership Group MemberLGBTQIA+ group participant

Meet the Team

Kristianne Drake

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • They/Them
  • Autistic, ADHD
  • kristianne@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team
  • Safeguarding Lead
  • First Aider + Mental Health First Aider

Music, photography, zine/bookmaking 🎶📷📔

Dog 🐕

Empire Records…overcoming challenges together, with a massive party!

Little My from Moomins is my spirit character—high-spirited and a bit naughty, though not always on purpose… maybe just sometimes.

Never shop on Amazon. We pay fair wages and proudly stay a Real Living Wage employer. 🛒💸

Last year Faye and I started The Stationary Cupboard a space for artistic failures and explorations!

Faye Phillips

  • Operations Manager
  • She/Her
  • ADHD
  • faye@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team
  • Safeguarding Lead
  • First Aider

Mixed media, paper crafts, zine and book making 🎶📷📔📄

Fox 🦊

Shaun of the Dead! I think I can probably recite the whole script!

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Because it’s very, very strange and dark.

I pledge to turn off all plug sockets when not in use and leave no charging cables on and nothing on standby.🔌

Outside of In Focus, I share an art studio in Southampton, The Stationary Cupboard, with Kristianne!

Holli Kalina

  • Project Coordinator - Isle of Wight
  • She/Her
  • 07356267855
  • holli@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team
  • First Aider
  • Isle of Wight Lead

Photography 📷

Too many to choose just one! 🌍

Mama Mia – I don’t normally favourites, but I have watched this film more times than any others.  I went along to the “sing along” viewing at the cinema twice!

Any murder mystery.

I love trying to work out who the murderer is. 📕🕵🏼‍♀️

To use my car as little as possible and walk whenever I can🚶‍♀️🚗

Every week, I spend a day helping out at a small farm at home, on the Isle of Wight 👩🏼‍🌾

Devin Valentine

  • Office Administrator
  • He/Him
  • ADHD
  • devin@infocusedu.co.uk
  • GDPR Lead
  • First Aider

Music & Crafting 🎶🧶

Parrots just make me really happy! 🦜

Right now, it’s RRR. I just rewatched it and it shows a rare sweet male friendship refreshingly outside of Western media tropes

Humankind – A Hopeful History—it made me believe in humanity again and feel more hopeful about human nature.

To see waste as un-purposed materials I can creatively repair and reuse! ♻️🛠️

I am a luthier – which means I make, repair and set up musical instruments. Also, I’m trans and queer! 🏳️‍⚧️🎻🏳️‍🌈

Dev Place

  • Marketing & Communications Manager
  • She/Her
  • Autistic, ADHD
  • dev@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team
  • First Aider
  • Social Media Lead

Music, photography, mixed media collage 🎶📷🖌️

My lil guy, Dexter Dog!

Hot Fuzz- I even have a Hot Fuzz tattoo…FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

Buffy! In Focus kind of feels like my own Scooby Gang…we even have a signed James Marsters (Spike himself!) print! 

To choose more sustainable products, remain vegan, and protect my garden pond to support biodiversity!🐟🦋🪷🐸

I love music, record collecting, and work as a music/events photographer when I’m not at in Focus! @devplacephotos

Becki Needham

  • Artist Educator
  • She/Her
  • becki@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team

Photography, Printmaking & Music 📜🎧

My cat, Ivy 🐈

The Iron Giant – I love animated films and I remember watching it over and over with my younger siblings so brings back a lot of feelings of nostalgia!

Many are influential -it’s hard to choose just one! But Orwell and Ursula K. Le Guin are favourites!

I pledge to reduce, reuse or recycle where I can ♻🗑️🪵

I love photography, visual arts, education, heritage, gigs, and helping others explore creativity!

Laura Lamb

  • Evaluator / Advocacy Writer
  • She/Her
  • Autistic
  • laura@infocusedu.co.uk

Music, literature, photography & surrealism! 🎹🎤📷🎨

Dogs and seals (dogs of the sea) 🐶🦭

Haven’t decided just yet!

💭

 

Haven’t decided just yet!

💭

Travel as sustainably as I can and to turn lights / electronics off when I’m not in use

🧳💡

I sing in Pegasuses and write fiction

Dan Wilson-Stone

  • Freelance Artist Educator
  • He/They
  • ADHD
  • dan@infocusedu.co.uk
  • Delivery Team

Music, Photography, Videography

Blue whale

Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s a miracle of a movie! An interdimensional martial arts adventure that’s all about how you’re the best version of yourself and that love is the answer.

Manga counts as books so One Piece. Started reading it in lockdown and got up to date with it’s 1000+ chapters and boy! what a journey I’ve been on.

Probably the best thing I do is not eat meat.

I play guitar and sing in Buds., Petty Squabbles and Pain Itself. I also do photography and videography when I find the time. I try my best to keep up with music and anime.

Meet the In Focus Trustees

“As Chair of the Board of Trustees I feel it is very important to bring together a diverse group of people from a mix of different professional and cultural backgrounds to represent In Focus, and I am extremely proud of both the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience we have on the Board. We are here to guide, support, and challenge the delivery team, and are keen to ensure In Focus is governed appropriately and responsibly, so it can continue to build a strong legacy and work hard for our communities.”

Rob Francis, Chair of Trustees

We are always open to additions to our Board, so if you would like more information on becoming a trustee with In Focus, or would like any more information on the group please email – rob@infocusedu.co.uk

The trustees meet at least 4 times a year.

Rob Francis

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(CHAIR OF TRUSTEES)

Actuary

@ Quilter

(He/Him)

Music and Literature

🥁📙

Octopus 🐙

Saw- Often misrepresented as pure gore, it’s actually a smart, twisty mystery-thriller, more akin to Se7en than splatter flicks like Hostel.

Catch-22 – a novel which confronts absurdity and death with gallows humour and nihilism.

My pledge is to not eat meat, and to source my food locally wherever possible. 🐄🥔

Still writing…

Rosanna Foster

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(DATA & EVALUATION LEAD)

Data & Evaluation Officer

@ Creative Youth Network

(She/Her)

Life Drawing

✍🏻✏️🖌️👩🏻‍🎨

Squirrel 🐿️

Fantastic Mr Fox. – Its stop-motion animation fills me with autumnal serenity, with a perfect soundtrack to gentle walks outside.    
 

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado – a genre-bending, intertextual memoir that feels more like an honest art piece than a conventional biography.

Boycott unsustainable food chains, choosing local, ethical spots with clean, green practices. 🍟🍃🛒🛍️

Still writing…

Olivia Priestley

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(YOUTH PARTNERSHIP PATHWAYS & PROGRESSION LEAD)

(She/Her)

Photography, drawing   ✏️

Penguins 🐧

Fantastic Mr Fox for the characters and stop motion animation.

Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 – a fun and interesting character to play as!

Walk locally and not drive 🥾 Not waste food 🥘 Recycle ♻️ 

I like to go on forest walks and go to saints games!
🌳🔴⚪️⚽️

Lorna Digweed

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(SAFEGUARDING LEAD)

Former Youth Arts Coordinator

@ Wessex Youth Offending Team/Wessex Dance Academy

(She/Her)

I’m a regular gig-goer in Southampton- I enjoy visual arts and exhibitions 🎼🖼️

Cats but I love dogs & all animals! 🐈‍⬛🐩

Too hard to choose one film but I do love a cheesy 1980’s film, especially anything with Tom Hanks in.

What I Talk About when I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami, I’m a fan of all his work but this is a fascinating insight into his relationship with running and writing.

I pledge to recycle as much as I can wherever possible!🚮

You can find me at Southampton parkrun every Saturday! 🏃🏼‍♀️👟

Louise Govier

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(FUNDRAISING LEAD)

CEO

@ Artswork

(She/Her)

singing, visual arts, dance

🎶🖼️🩰

Guinea pig (but I still love our dog!)🐶🐹

Enchanted April – because it’s about women helping each other to be happy. Plus, it is full of beautiful Italian sunshine ☀️            

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett – it’s a thriller, a love story… and it’s about opera in the jungle. Both an intimate and epic writing in one read!

I pledge to invest in an air source heat pump at home, and to pick litter in my local park 🌬️🗑️

I love singing in choirs and musical projects—everything from the BBC Proms to operas about Stalin, cathedrals, and Chilean miners. If it involves storytelling through song, I’m in!

Jon Gardner

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(FINANCE LEAD)

Inspector

@HMI Probation

(He/Him)

Film   🎬

Rhinoceros 🦏

The Godfather- beautifully shot, amazing performances and great story telling

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons – I reread it yearly and always discover something new. The imagination is brilliantly complex.

I pledge to not use single use plastic whenever I can avoid doing so🦆🧊🔄

I was once interviewed by Fred Dineage dressed as Rambo!

Tom Slevin

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(FUNDRAISING LEAD)

Senior Lecturer

@Solent University

(He/Him)

All of them, including hybrid art forms!🎨🖼️🎭

Dolphin 🐬

”Mirror’ by Andrei Tarkovsky – it’s just so cinematic. I could go on but I’ll leave it there.

I think the most affecting book I’ve ever read was when I was seventeen – it was the ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ by John Steinbeck. 

To treat nature with respect in every situation possible.🌲❄️🐝

I’ve run the London Marathon in under 3 hours, twice!

Harry Holder

TRUSTEE FOR IN FOCUS

(VICE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES)

Marketing & Communications Lead@ No Limits

(He/Him)

Music & documentary photography

Elephant 🐘

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Western legends and the best film score!

Close to Home by Michael Magee. A beautiful story exploring masculinity, trauma, purpose and identity.

I pledge to grow wildflowers to help the bees 🐝🌼 

I follow Saints home and away but when I’m not doing that, I sometimes take pictures of things and put them on @stillsbyharry on Instagram (regular posts not guaranteed). ⚽📷

Day Martin

TRUSTEE AND VOLUNTEER

(She/Her) (Autistic)

Textiles and fashion!🧵

Opossums and crustaceans 🦞

Lovely Bones – I find it’s dark themes fascinating

Nijntje / Miffy, I grew up with her so she’s very nostalgic for me, and cute!!

I pledge to use my creative materials to their fullest potential and waste as little as possible, also to remember to turn off the lights when I leave a room!

I’m currently studying Fashion Design and Development at London College of Fashion and I love the nightlife here!!

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