Ditching Dieting.

Hello.
So, on Monday, as I mentioned yesterday, Jake, a lovely guy I met on the Ready for Work march back in October tweeted me asking if I would go up to Embankment to meet him and take some photos for the organisation he campaigns for, Body Gossip.

The march was a union of women against the unnecessary but unavoidable pressure to diet and 'better ourselves' during the post-Christmas period. Yes, dieting is about being healthy, but the message being sent out is that dieting will be good because you'll be able to fit into 'that dress' or 'those jeans', hardly a satisfactory way to promote self-esteem.

Here are the photos I took at Monday's march, luckily there were plenty of photo opportunities before the march but I did have to resort to my phone halfway through as my camera, despite (although probably due to) having battery for nearly three weeks, decided to die. I think I got some good shots though and I'd love to know what you think of the photos and what you think of the campaign.

Do you think that in-your-face diet promotion creates a lack of self-esteem?



The Body Gossip team
@MooseyJake, @BodyGossipRuth, @BodyGossipSarah and @BodyGossipTash















Body Gossip were amongst other organisations such as BEAT, Any Body and Pink Stinks joining the Ditching Dieting campaign by Endangered Species Women.
Founded in 2006 by Ruth Rogers, Body Gossip is an inspirational campaign working with real people and celebrating the importance of body confidence. The youth campaign run by Body Gossip, Gossip School educates young people about eating disorders, self-harm and self-confidence and is even backed by Gok Wan.

There are more photos taken by me already on the Body Gossip website.

Official Body Gossip website
Follow Body Gossip on Twitter
Endangered Species Women
More information about the Ditching Dieting march

Channel 4 Battlefront presents: Ready 4 Work.

Aside from needing to not being on the internet to preserve my sanity, if you happened to be wondering, another reason that I have been a bit MIA over the last few days is because yesterday I took part in T4 Battlefront: Ready 4 Work's Walk 4 Work campaign.

I'm just above the 'R' in 'FOR'.
Photo credit: Channel 4

Ready 4 Work is a campaign under Channel 4's online and television project, Battlefront. The campaign seeks to give a voice to NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) aged 18-25, to prove we're not lazy and we're willing to make a pro-active difference in our job hunt.
The Walk 4 Work part was an act to further demonstrate Ready 4 Work's message, head campaigners Joseph and Hafsah want to make a dent in the 973,000 figure placed upon youth unemployment.







It was a really interesting experience, learning about the work that goes into the production of a television programme, as well as hearing everybody's different stories. I think I might even be on telly, so that will be fun. My star-status is already on the rise (jk), with a headshot and quote in The Independent today. I think it's a very important message though and I would love to do something similar again, standing nose-to-back with Charlie Simpson is just oh too exciting.

My face wasn't in the Metro but I did get a whole three sentences in The Independent so...

The march ended at the Houses of Parliament where Joseph and Hafsah went in to talk to the employment minister, Chris Grayling. Grayling was in full support of the campaign and has promised to get the Job Centre to work alongside Battlefront to create 1000 work placements (source).
I think that the whole day helped to make me feel as though not being the only one isn't a negative thing, and I learnt that everyone hates the Job Centre, everyone. I think we were creating a lot of positive attention while walking on the streets as well so it's quite exciting really and what's been written today about the campaign only adds to the value of the message.
I also got a free bowler hat, t-shirt and pin out of it so if nothing else but the photos I'm sharing with you now, I will also have physical objects to always remember the day I Walked 4 Work.




To find out more about Ready 4 Work as well as additional campaigns run by Battlefront, please visit the Battlefront website.