Documentary photographer Polly Braden has spent a year capturing the lives of young people living in coastal communities across England and Wales, resulting in a new touring exhibition titled 'Against the Tide.' The project, a collaboration with the Guardian's Seascape section, aims to shed light on the experiences of 16- to 25-year-olds who often feel overlooked and unsung on the fringes of the nation.
Inspiration Behind the Project
Braden's inspiration came from reading a landmark report about the poor health of people living on the English coast. 'I was just blown away by it,' she says. 'I thought: this is about England. And it affects all of us.' As a single mother of teenagers, she had also become interested in the lives of young people who grew up under austerity, lived through a pandemic, and are now coming of age during a cost-of-living crisis.
Focus on Coastal Communities
The project focuses on the 'beauty and bleakness' of coastal life. Braden visited towns such as Blackpool, Whitehaven, Grimsby, and Scarborough, spending time with young people to understand their daily realities. 'It's about reaching the edges,' she explains.
Highlights of the exhibition include a photograph of Libby from Whitehaven, Cumbria, standing on a beach under a gloomy sky, holding a bag of oranges, with a faint rainbow behind her. 'There's beauty in it,' says Braden. 'And there is bleakness.' Another image shows Cohen from Grimsby dressed as an Easter bunny; unable to find local work, he started his own business as a mascot for parties. 'He's become an entrepreneur,' Braden notes.
Challenging Stereotypes
Braden's work challenges the stereotype that young people are lazy or disengaged. 'I wanted to show their creativity, resilience, and care for their community,' she says. The exhibition also features postcards created by young people at workshops, where they write to each other about growing up on the coast. 'Weston-super-Mare is writing to Blackpool, and Blackpool is writing to Whitehaven,' Braden explains, highlighting the shared experiences of geographic and socioeconomic periphery.
Importance of Youth Services
Braden emphasizes the vital role of youth clubs, charities, and education programmes, many of which have faced funding cuts. 'Three-quarters of youth services have closed. How did we let that happen?' she asks. She believes politicians and policymakers need to listen to young people. 'Just go and sit in that youth centre. Have conversations. Because the young people are really powerful. They know what they want and they will tell you, if you listen.'
The exhibition, Polly Braden: Against the Tide, runs from 27 June to 27 September at Arnolfini gallery in Bristol, and from 1 October to 1 March 2027 at Firstsite in Colchester.
