IdeasTap is a charity focused on helping creative people who are just starting out in their careers to find their feet, to get the support and encouragement that they need, and to develop their passion into a workable career path. It covers a diverse range of creative disciplines and works with some of the biggest names in those fields to bring insight and opportunities to its members. In the case of photographers, it is working with Magnum Photos for the 2013 Photographic Award. It doesn't get much bigger than that!

The IdeasTap 2013 Photographic Award offers three winners £5,000 in prize money, £1,500 in project funding, mentoring from Magnum photographers, and the chance to work at Magnum’s offices in London or New York. One winner will be selected from each of the age categories: 16 to 22, 23 to 30, and 31+; in addition, there will be prizes for 18 shortlisted photographers (six from each age group).

The short-listed candidates will benefit from a mentoring session with a Magnum Photographer, Blurb book vouchers, and £150 to have their pictures printed. Come the autumn, their photos will be exhibited, too.

At the exhibition, nine finalists—three from each group—will be selected. The nine finalists will each receive £1,500 to shoot the project of their dreams, create a multimedia Magnum in Motion project, and will receive a second mentoring session. Then of course, the three overall winners will be chosen.

The brief for each category is the same: submit a series of ten photos that fit with one of five themes: conflict, climate, memory, human relationships, or journey. The deadline is 31 May, so if you're interested, you need to get a wriggle on!

All of the details, including how to join IdeasTap (it's free), is available on the IdeasTap website.