The Economic and Social Research Council is hosting its fifth annual Better Lives photo competition for young people.

The council is challenging 14-to-18-year-olds to take a photograph that demonstrates what better lives means to them.

Images can be taken on cameras, mobile phones or tablets and must be entered into one of the five categories: Better Health, Better Education, Better Economy, Better Environment, and Better Relationships.

Each entry must be accompanied by a 100-word supporting statement detailing how it relates to the category and to social science.

The winners of each category will receive £150 in vouchers and a trophy, with runners-up receiving £50 in vouchers and a medal.

The overall winner will also receive £200 in vouchers and a special trophy, and the photographers of the judges’ favourite images will receive £50 each in vouchers.

The competition will be judged by Jacky Clake, head of communications at the ESRC, i newspaper picture editor Sophie Batterbury, documentary and portrait photographer Ollie Smallwood, BBC picture editor Phil Coomes, and the overall winner of the 2016 competition, Joanne Gallagher

The competition will close on December 7, winning photographs will be exhibited at London's Espacio Gallery from March 26 to 30, with a special ceremony and private viewing for the winners on March 26.

All winning photographs will appear in the summer 2019 issue of the ESRC’s Society Now magazine.

To enter and find out more, visit esrc.ukri.org/public-engagement/photographic-competition