Champions of Merton & Wandsworth

I was very excited to be asked to photograph a series of portraits for an upcoming exhibition for the Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships. They donate more than £4 million annually to local, national and international charities to strengthen and support the local community, inspire the next generation through sport, build healthy communities and respond in times of need.

The exhibition was titled "Champions of Merton and Wandsworth" to celebrate 10 everyday heroes from the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth who have inspired others and made a positive impact on their local communities. The exhibition was on public display at Southside Shopping Centre, Wandsworth from 7 to 21 April 2025 and in The Piazza, Wimbledon from 6 to 27 May 2025.

George Turner

Born and raised in Wandsworth, youth worker George was inspired to start a charity after his mentor, the boxing legend Mick Carney, died in 2011. Since then, Carney’s Community has helped thousands of young people living in Wandsworth and surrounding areas to turn their lives around through boxing and mentoring.

“The mentoring that Carney’s Community offers is unique. Many of our young people report being passed between different agencies, which can lead to them feeling frustrated and disengaged from support services. At Carney’s Community, a young person builds a trusting relationship with a single consistent person and this relationship lasts as long as the young person needs.

“Seeing how unfair life can be for people is what drives me, plus the ability of those who've not been given a fair chance, who just need a bit of support and belief. I’m here to provide long-term, consistent and unconditional support, and help each young person be the best that they can be.”

Ava Little

Ava was just five years old when the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI) visited her primary school in Mitcham and invited her to attend free weekly tennis coaching at the All England Club. Fourteen years later, Ava is a qualified Level 1 tennis coach and part of the WJTI team which visits state primary schools across Merton and Wandsworth, introducing children to tennis and the benefits sport can bring.   

“ When I joined the WJTI, I was very shy and found it hard to socialise. Playing tennis helped me to come out of my comfort zone, develop my communication skills and feel confident in myself and around others. Seven years ago, I lost my brother, and tennis has really helped me with my mental health and to release any anger that I have. The WJTI helped me to believe that anything is possible, and I want to pass that on to the kids I’m now working with and tell them everything is possible and to never give up.”

Temi Johnson

Sports fan Temi has cerebral palsy and began volunteering at Disability Sports Coach (DSC), a charity using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of disabled people, while he was at college. Through DSC’s Inclusive Activity Leaders programme, Temi is now employed as a qualified coach running sports activities for  disabled children and adults  at DSC’s Club Wandsworth.   

“Seeing the participants have smiles on their faces and watching them progress each time they come back to the sessions, it’s just amazing. Disability Sports Coach has given me a career that I love, and my proudest moment was getting Coach of the Year from national charity StreetGames.”

MArvin Clarke

Marvin finds it easy to get out of bed every morning because he gets paid to help people. As a driver for City Harvest London, a charity redistributing food that would otherwise be wasted, Marvin spends his days driving across Merton and Wandsworth delivering food to organisations feeding people facing food poverty.   

“What I do every day is very important. Foodbanks are becoming normal and commonplace. Before it was an extreme for people who had nothing to go to a foodbank, but now people who sometimes work two jobs go to foodbanks as the cost of living is so high. That’s sad and that’s not right. The highlight of working for City Harvest is helping people and knowing that what I do directly affects people’s lives.”

Anita Russell

For 25 years, mother of five Anita has spent every weekend running free football coaching for children and young people living in Roehampton. Together with her friend and neighbour, Eddie Leroux, Anita founded Doverhouse Lions FC, driven by a desire to get children and young people off the streets and into a family environment where they could develop football and life skills.   

“Doverhouse Lions FC is a place for everyone and where every person matters. Football is a way in and a means of teaching life skills, but we want the club to be a safe haven and a springboard to success. We help to build young people’s confidence, improve attitudes, write CVs and help with interview techniques. We’re a family. Once you’re a Doverhouse Lion, you’re a Doverhouse Lion for life.”

Anne Remedios

Wimbledon resident and retired teacher Anne practises yoga every day and helps to run Merton Goan Senior Citizens Association (MGSCA), a community group offering food, friendship and exercise to local residents in Merton and Wandsworth.   

“I joined MGSCA after my husband died. My focus is on organising the weekly Wednesday sessions which help our members to lead vibrant and physically active lives. Through eating lunch together and a programme of outings, singing and dancing, we enable members to make friends and enjoy socialising together.”

NAthan Maraj

Merton resident Nathan enjoyed Thai boxing and riding motorbikes until he began losing his sight in his twenties. Supported by Merton Vision, Nathan has had to adjust to a new way of living and find new interests and hobbies. He’s taken up ballet, plays visually impaired tennis, has even worked at The Championships, and through Merton Vision he now helps others beginning their sight loss journey to adapt.   

“It’s been a good journey too. It’s not all doom and gloom. Losing my sight has given me new opportunities. Hearing from other people who are visually impaired about how to do things was such a help and now I try to share my experience to help others. I’m trying to make the best of losing my sight.”

Pamela Mhlophe

For 26 years, Pamela has dedicated her life to helping women involved in sex work in the local community. Through Spires charity’s Women’s Services project, Pamela has provided long-term support to more than 600 women helping them to overcome multiple challenges and leave sex work behind.   

“This is front line, direct work with women. It’s increasingly complex and can have a lot of challenges. But for me, even helping one woman is enough. I meet the most amazing women and girls who just didn’t have the right chances and choices in life, and they just need someone to believe in them. I have had so many proud moments and memories from my work with women, if I were to write a book, it would be endless.”

Teresa Harris

Watching her daughter struggle to learn to read proved a moment of inspiration for Putney resident Teresa. In 2014, Teresa founded Learn to Love to Read, a literacy charity supporting children who are finding learning to read challenging and equipping parents to offer support at home. A decade on, Learn to Love to Read is working in 10 primary schools across Wandsworth borough enabled by a team of around 65 volunteers.   

“Reading can transform the life chances of children growing up. Research by Book Trust has found that reading for pleasure in the early years has four times more impact on a child’s progress by the age of 16 than parental education or socioeconomic status. Reading opens so many doors, and I’m passionate about those doors being opened to as many people as possible.”

Emma Chisholm

Southfields resident Emma can’t bear the thought of any older person being lonely. Leaving her corporate job behind, Emma went to work for Age UK Wandsworth before setting up Sparkle, an intergenerational community centre, now in three locations across the borough. Through Sparkle, primary and pre-school aged children become “grandfriends” with isolated older people through activities like reading, craft and gardening.  

“We see beautiful friendships form between young and old with numerous benefits for both generations. One of our older guests says she doesn’t see anyone all week and when she leaves Sparkle, she says she always looks forward to the next session, which she describes as the highlight of her week.”