Swans at Sunset wins Southport Foodbank and Stand Up For Southport photo competition

David Jones‘ stunning winning entry of Swans at Sunset beat over 180 other entries in the Compassion Acts photo competition, in association with Stand Up for Southport.

The image will now join others in the 2021 Southport Foodbank Calendar – a great Christmas present or gift for people which will raise vital funds for the charity. 

David’s picture, from Southport, was chosen by award-winning professional photographer Gareth Jones. =

Gareth said: “In terms of the overall quality it was great to see our great town showcased so well on camera.

“The entries captured all that is special about Southport, from some amazing sunsets to early morning mist over the marshes.

“It just shows how much our resort has to offer.

“The winner was a real stand-out image. The colours were so vibrant and the swans looked so graceful against the backdrop of a glorious sunset.

“All about being in the right place at the right time some say but it also takes a certain set of skills and this certain photograph showed that.”

David received a hamper donated by Morrisons supermarket in Southport, and his image will appear with 11 others on a fundraising calendar, which will help those in need via Southport Foodbank, Food Pantry or a debt and welfare service.

Stand Up For Southport owners Phil Gee and Andrew Brown said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who submitted photos in our joint competition with Compassion Acts, which operates Southport Foodbank, and to the incredibly talented local photographer Gareth Jones who was an excellent judge. 

“We were all impressed by the sheer quality and variety of the photos which were submitted. 

“They show the number of talented photographers we have here in Southport.

“They also show just how beautiful Southport is, from our beaches, to our parks, our Pier, our wildlife, as well as some great shots of our town’s more hidden gems. 

David Jones winning entry of Swans at Sunset beat over 180 other entries in the Compassion Acts photo competition, in association with Stand Up for Southport

“We launched Stand Up For Southport earlier this year to showcase everything that is great about Southport. We all need to talk up our town and support each other, particularly at this time. 

“We welcome any passionate photographers out there to come and join our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group. Please share your great pictures of Southport with our members – we already have 13,000 and are growing fast!

“Thank you to Compassion Acts and Southport Foodbank for teaming up with us on this photo competition. They do a superb job in the Southport community, I hope people locally continue to give them your every support. 

“The calendars look superb – they show Southport at its very best while raising money for a much-needed local charity.

“Congratulations to David Jones on his sensational winning entry and thank you to everyone who took part.”

This wrap-around work of Compassion Acts – now based out of its new premises in St Peters Centre, St Peters Road, Birkdale, PR8 4BY – has been impacted by the pandemic.

Compassion Acts Chief Executive Richard Owens said: “Numbers needing our services have risen sharply this year but people have been wonderful, rallying around with extra donations of food and money. We fear our services will be needed even more, as the economic effects of the pandemic take hold.

“We hope our fundraising calendar will help raise more money to go towards this cause. The photographs submitted to this competition were amazing, and we’re so proud of the photos submitted, which show Southport in all its beauty.”

If you would like to help with the work of Compassion Acts and Southport Foodbank please visit: www.compassionacts.uk

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com