Nick Hedges studied photography at the University of Birmingham from 1965-1968. His final project at the University of Birmingham worked with Birmingham Housing Trust on an exhibition which led to his work for Shelter, the National Campaign for the Homeless, from 1968. For Shelter Nick Hedges worked across Britain photographing and researching poor housing conditions and producing exhibitions and publications. The Shelter Archive holds the photographs taken for this project over the period 1969-72 as well as Hedges' photographers' notes, Shelter posters and publications. After Shelter, Hedges worked for the BBC, MENCAP, the Royal Town Planning Institute, and Penguin books, as well as a freelance photographer. He undertook other photography projects such as a 2 year project to document factory work culminating in a study that was exhibited and a book. Hedges also completed a documentation of the fishing industry in the North of England for the Side Gallery in Newcastle. From 1988-2002 Nick Hedges was subject leader in Photography at the University of Wolverhampton.

Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, was established in 1966 as Shelter, the National Campaign for the Homeless. When the charity launched in December 1966 its aims were to raise money for underfunded housing associations so that they could re-house families in need and to raise public awareness of homelessness and housing conditions. Shelter’s early activity included its “Face the Facts” report, which urged government to change its definition of "homeless" to include those living in property deemed "unfit for human habitation", resulting in conferences and rallies across Britain. The Liverpool Shelter Neighbourhood Action Project was another early project running from 1969-1972 which worked with residents living in slums to build the houses they wanted to live in. In 1968 Shelter hired photographer Nick Hedges to take documentary photography of housing conditions across Britain which were used in campaigns and also documented these projects. When the Housing Act was passed in 1974 Shelter’s efforts turned to raising awareness and help for people facing homelessness and the rights of private tenants. Shelter continue to work to raise awareness of and help people struggling with homelessness and poor housing in Britain. Shelter offer a housing advice service and campaign to change laws and fundraise to help those in need. Shelter celebrated “Shelter at 50” in 2016 with special events in Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield.