A 62-year-old former homeless man from Bridlington has been nominated for a prestigious BBC award after discovering his talent for photography and using it to connect his community. Kev Oldfield, originally from Halifax, has been selected as one of four finalists in the Great Neighbor category of the BBC Radio Humberside Make a Difference Awards, with the winner to be announced in Scunthorpe on September 17th.
Oldfield's journey to recognition has been marked by significant personal struggles. By 2016, he had been sleeping rough on the streets for five years and had served nine prison sentences throughout his life, with his final release occurring in August 1993. "I'm not proud of what I did. It taught me a valuable lesson - not to do it again. I realized there was more to life," Oldfield reflected on his past.
His troubles began early in childhood when he was sent to a children's home at age seven, where he admits he "got into the wrong crowd." Interestingly, Oldfield describes his experience with homelessness as "a choice," explaining his perspective: "I did it because I liked it. I'm an outdoor person. Sometimes being inside, it gets too much, because your walls start closing in on you."
The turning point in Oldfield's life came on November 4, 2016, when he was walking past Emmanuel Church in Bridlington and spontaneously decided to enter. "They've been a great help to me, they've changed my life," he said of the church community. "I've got a lot of people to thank and they know who they are."
Oldfield discovered his photographic talent in 2019 when he captured an image of a fisherman at sunrise on Bridlington seafront, which remains his favorite location for photography. His first act of generosity with his newfound skill set the tone for his future approach: "I took it and then went to the shop, got it printed and framed, and then gave it to him. It's in his hallway so when he goes out his Mrs knows where he is."
Since 2019, Oldfield has been regularly posting his photographs to the Facebook group "Beautiful Bridlington," where his images consistently receive hundreds of interactions from community members. His work has caught the attention of locals like Samantha Briggs, who nominated him for the BBC award because his photographs "connect everybody." Briggs explained the impact of his work: "Every day, when I go on Facebook, I see these gorgeous pictures of the beautiful town of Bridlington. It's brilliant how it just connects everybody who either lives here or has moved away."
Reflecting on his nomination as a finalist for the BBC Make A Difference Awards, Oldfield expressed both surprise and pride in the recognition. "It's blown my head, getting recognized and it makes it worthwhile getting up in the morning," he said. However, he emphasized that the honor extends beyond his personal achievement: "It's not just for me. It's for every homeless man." His story demonstrates how artistic expression can serve as both a personal pathway to recovery and a means of building community connections.
