Young people’s film makes Charity Film Award final
Tynedale Hospice at Home’s unique film about bereavement – Grief as a Teenager – has made it to the final of the national Charity Film Awards.
The entry is one of six finalist in the Long Form category (for charities with turnover of under £5 million).
The film was made with the help of six young people who have all been bereaved of a parent in the hope that it will bring comfort to other young people in the same situation.
They all received one to one support from Tynedale Hospice at Home’s Family Support Service which provides pre and post bereavement support to families in West Northumberland, Tynedale, Ponteland and the surrounding areas.
The group came together at Tynedale Hospice at Home’s Film Club every fortnight at its base in Hexham for two months to explore their thoughts, feelings and hope for the future whilst creating a giant collage as a visual display of their experiences – from how they felt at the start of their bereavement journey, to how they are feeling now.
Hexham film maker Christo Wallers joined Family Support Practitioner Emma Andrews to record fly on the wall-style conversations as the young people came together to discuss a range of topics, including sudden death, the importance of knowing the truth and living with grief.
The result is a frank and honest account of the rawness of grief, how it changes you forever and how everyone’s experience is different and deeply personal to them. The film is now being used in one to one and group support for young people experiencing bereavement.
Across the entire awards, 300 entries were received for the Awards, and 50,000 members of the public voted for their favourite to make the judges shortlist.
The Charity Film Awards panel of expert judges included David Eades, Journalist and Newsreader, BBC, Philip Collins, Journalist and Speechwriter, The Times and Georgina Lewis, Head of Marketing the FA.
As well as standing a chance of winning an award in its category, ‘Grief as a Teenager’ is also in with a chance to win ‘People’s Choice’ Award. This is given to the film that receives the most public votes.
Emma Andrews, Family Support Practitioner, who worked with the teenagers on the film, said: ““We are chuffed to bits to have come this far but our thanks really goes to the young people involved who spoke so honestly and eloquently about their own very personal experiences of being bereaved. We are so grateful to them.”
We’re appealing to everyone in our local community to get online and vote for ‘Grief as a Teenager.’
It’s completely free to vote, so please, please spare two minutes to register and vote at here
Simon Burton, Co-Founder of the Charity Film Awards said: ‘In the digital age, charities’ use of video is fundamental to engage the hearts and minds of their communities. The Finalists are the very best examples of that in action.”
Tynedale Hospice at Home has been nominated alongside other leading names from the third sector. The winners will be announced at a special gala awards ceremony on Friday, 26 April.
To find out more about Tynedale Hospice at Home’s Family Support Service, please call 01434 604 321.