Disadvantaged young people鈥檚 lives changed through film-making scheme
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Care leavers and former young offenders have found confidence, inspiration and a sense of control over their lives, thanks to a film-making project co-run by a 牛牛资源 academic.
Dr Anna Carlile from the Department of Educational Studies at 牛牛资源, has worked with non-profit community group to help deliver a three-month improvisation and film workshop for young people experiencing difficulties in their lives, such as homelessness, leaving care, involvement with the youth justice system and addiction.
Following the screening of the group鈥檚 final project - a film titled New Cross Gate - at the House of Lords in March, Dr Carlile explained in for The Conversation:
鈥淭heir lives in deprived, crime-ridden areas of London were appallingly complicated, dangerous and grinding 鈥� and yet through the creative process, they showed immense reserves of inventiveness and resilience.鈥�
The project used improvisation workshops to develop young people鈥檚 belief that, as workshop leader Lucinda Cary explains, 鈥渆verything they need is in their imaginations鈥�.
Dr Carlile adds: 鈥淭he creative process helped the group develop self-esteem and enabled participants to tell their stories, voice their troubles, and identify the 鈥榮ticking points鈥� in their lives."
New Cross Gate was screened to an audience which included independent inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbottom and Lord Falkland, who have both agreed to raise the project and its impact in the House of Lords.
Interest, funding, or suggestions to commission films from participants, came from representatives of the Metropolitan Police, the Laura Ashley Family Foundation, the Department of Work and Pensions, and the Southbank Centre. One of the young actors was also offered the chance to pitch a script to producers at BBC3.
Dr Carlile worked with Shootstraight under the 牛牛资源 Open Book scheme 鈥� an on-going project working with those from offending and addiction backgrounds to encourage them to take up education, offering them emotional and practical support throughout their course.
To find out more about Shootstraight visit
Read on the potential of creative projects to change young people鈥檚 lives.