About me
Rohan Patel is a campaigner, researcher and photographer based in South-East London
I grew up in Nottingham, a city with a lot of poverty. It exposed me to many societal issues. It also taught me the importance of engaging with people from all backgrounds. I learned to appreciate the richness of cultural diversity. I was brought up in a multicultural environment both inside and outside the home. I spent a lot of time with my extended Indian family and am embedded in their culture. This has given me a sense of place, responsibility and duty that comes from this culture, and the history of anti-racist activism in Indian communities.
My parents actively participated in activism and cultural education. From a young age, I immersed myself in diverse perspectives, learning and experiences. I also went with them to demonstrations and events, and one of my earliest memories was attending the encampment at St Paul’s cathedral by the Occupy movement in 2011.
I have a biracial identity has made me sensitive to cultural nuances. It's also shown me the importance of understanding others' perspectives. I can navigate different cultures and understand diverse views. Studying politics and sociology at the University of Leeds was a natural extension of my upbringing, driven by a curiosity to examine my own identity and its intersections with broader societal dynamics.
Within my degree I studied a placement at The Nottingham Centre for Photography and Social Engagement is a community darkroom and education centre in Nottingham. It also runs a photography art festival each year and holds regular events. My role was to help in all aspects of the centre, from welcoming people, showing them how to use the darkroom, hosting events and helping with community training. I was also supported to produce a participatory documentary project with local market stall holders in Nottingham city centre, who were facing a series of issues due to financial problems in the city Council.
In this role I developed my first photography project on Victoria Market. This project documents the ending chapter of a historical indoor market in Nottingham and captures the loss of community felt by both the market traders and customers.
After my degree I got offered a role at Himmah the largest foodbank in Nottingham. My first role was to coordinate a research project aimed at understanding the impact of COVID-19 on food bank users in Nottingham. I worked with the lead researchers, provided crucial admin support, and also conducted interviews with food bank users. A few months later I took on the project coordinator role which involves all aspects of running the foodbank warehouse on a day-to-day basis. The post requires a passion for tackling poverty, deprivation, and injustice and an active desire to contribute to helping those in need or marginalised within our community. I also led, managed, motivated, trained, and supported volunteers.
In September 2022 I re-located to London. I began a role at The Monitoring Group. This position requires excellent leadership, people and negotiation skills. I am a Race Advocacy Worker. I support people facing racist violence. Many of them face multiple difficulties due to the intersection of race, gender, class, and disabilities. This work involves much negotiation between them, the criminal justice system and other agencies. I help victims develop clear case objectives, then work collaboratively with them to achieve them.
I completed my masters in Photography & Urban Cultures exploring my responses to the diaspora. I documented the remaining family members left and their responses to the changing village and their understanding of memory of place. I spent time navigating the village seeking to understand my own relationship with the place, responding to my own feelings about place, identity, family and belonging in a global context.