We were commissioned to produce a youth voice film with Sefton Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Alder Hey’s (Camhelions, a group of young people from Alder hey children services).

Date: May 2021

About:

Camhelions, a youth (14-18yo) advocacy group from Sefton Camhs, approached The Reporters’ Academy to help them put together a film and social media content which spread positive messages of the COVID pandemic and lockdown based on young people’s voices and experiences. The film was to capture those who had helped the young people during their time in lockdown, to express thanks and also shine a light on the NHS and their incredible staff.

The project was to coincide with our Trafford Reporters programme to bring two youth groups together to share their voices, thoughts, opinions and experiences. The Camhelions group were to think of their film idea and focus whereas our young reporters were to storyboard and help capture the footage.

Task:

A series of online training sessions were delivered by The Reporters’ Academy with the Camhelions and Trafford Reporters to align both groups, understand the brief, complete tasks, capture footage and create a film which heightened youth voice, shared positive, uplifting messages of the pandemic and gave thanks to all those who supported young people. The sessions delivered training on the following:

• Storyboarding and scripting
• Camera techniques using a mobile phone
• Filming and capturing content
• Interview techniques and conducting interviews
• Confidence in front of the camera
• Social media planning

Action:

Once the training sessions were complete, the Camhelions and Trafford Reporters worked together to bring their “You’ll Never Walk Alone” film to life. Both groups worked together to capture the footage needed, conducted interviews with those who had helped them during the pandemic as well as attended regular catch ups throughout the project. Once all footage and interviews were captured, The Reporters’ Academy worked on editing the footage together to create the final film as well as social media clips.

Result:

The film has been shared across social media, achieving 1000s views to date, and has also been viewed and shared at a variety of NHS England, Alder Hey Hospital and Sefton Camhs presentation evenings and conferences. The Reporters’ Academy have also created their own presentations to share with wider partners and decision makers at the NHS to evaluate and praise the final project.

Quote from Jess Robinson, Youth Forum Lead:

“We first introduced the group to The Reporters’ Academy in November 2020 when we took on a project called Health Information Champions funded by NHSE and we have never looked back. Working alongside the fantastic team gave the young people many skills that they can use throughout their journey to adulthood.

The team were always very professional and ensured the sessions they delivered were adapted to meet the needs of the children and young people Camhelions represent. By building these relationships up with the team from TRA the young people began to show significant progress in their confidence and the skills they were developing. The team were always very clear with the young people that it would always be a youth-led project which empowered the them to take control and gave them a sense of responsibility and ownership.

The commitment they have both shown to the young people and staff was phenomenal, we had weekly meetings and the guys were always on hand at any moment when we needed that extra support.

Glyn and Hope have inspired the young people to continue developing their skills and the Camhelions group have continued to flourish and put everything they learnt into action by continuing to have a strong presence of social media and delegating tasks to each other to ensure Youth Voice is heard across the city.

It’s has been a pleasure to work with the Glyn and Hope and we are all looking forward to joining them in the future.”

Deliverables met:

• confidence
• mentoring opportunity
• awareness of capabilities
• skills development
• career planning
• increased employability
• relationship building
• film content produced! Boom💥

You’re Never Walking Alone film can be seen here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc12dE4pmt8