Description
Beyond the Game looks towards the community within Burgess Sports and the Aylesbury Estate. The Aylesbury has been notorious in the media as one of Europe’s largest housing complexes, and after Tony Blair’s visit in 1997 was stigmatised as a ‘hells’ waiting room’. Since then this reputation has overshadowed the vibrancy and resilience of its residents.
This project was created in collaboration with Burgess Sports, a local charity that has been dedicated to providing quality sports camps for children on the estate since 2011. Over the years, the organisation has expanded beyond sports, offering an ambassador programme for teenagers, food programmes, arts and crafts, well-being initiatives, and more.
Through Beyond the Game, I aim to challenge these media tropes and present an alternative perspective—one that highlights the power of community engagement and the transformative impact of sports on young people. I am deeply passionate about sharing this story as widely as possible. The photobook serves as a visual testament to the strength and unity of a community that has long been underrepresented. With the ongoing regeneration of the estate and the displacement of many families, this work stands as a tribute to those who have shaped and sustained the Aylesbury’s communal spirit.
