Youngsters pave the way for safeguarding with film debut
Safeguarding has hit the big screen in North Tyneside as young people and North Tyneside Safeguarding Children Partnership (NTSCP) proudly premiered a new, short film yesterday (20 July)
Designed by young people, for young people, the animated film will now be rolled out across secondary schools in the borough to educate pupils on safeguarding.
Led by North Tyneside Council, Northumbria Police and North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), the NTSCP commissioned the short film to help get young people involved in safeguarding.
Leaders from the partnership wanted young people to be at the centre of the project, supporting them to work with local production company Turps Film Ltd to plan, storyboard and take an active role in the production of the film.
It aims to make safeguarding easy to understand for young people, explaining to them what it means and how to stay safe by using the language of the young people.
The project involved young people from The Carers Centre the YMCA in North Shields, and members of the Council’s Youth Council and SEND Forum
Over a period of three days the project volunteers worked with the production company to come up with ideas for their film and got first-hand experience of recording the voice over of their film.
To celebrate their achievement, the partnership hosted a fun premier event at Jam Jar Cinema in Whitley Bay to premier their animated film for the first time.
Julie Firth, Director of Children’s Services at North Tyneside Council, said: “Having young people’s voice at the centre of this work is something we’re really proud of. It’s been brilliant to have them immersed in the work of the partnership and gaining a real understanding of how important safeguarding is while gaining brilliant new skills and experiences.
“Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and it’s important that young people know what safeguarding is and how they can help, and this film will do exactly that. The young people involved have done a fantastic job of bringing their ambition to life.”
Richard Scott, Director of Nursing (North), NHS North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "It's fantastic to see young people coming together and engaging in this project - using their ideas and creativity to create this film, which will help to raise awareness of safeguarding and the support available to young people in North Tyneside.
I would like to say a huge thank you to them and I hope it will encourage other young people to get involved in helping us to communicate on important issues like this in the future."
Detective Chief Inspector Les Goodliff of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding department said: “We all have a duty of care to help safeguard our communities and it’s important that people understand from a young age what safeguarding is.
“Safeguarding is a complex topic but the team have presented it in such an accessible format. This film being produced by young people, for young people means it really will resonate with those who will watch it, hopefully for years to come.
“A big well done to all involved in the production of this film – you should be immensely proud of yourselves.”
You can find out more about NTCSP here: https://www.northtynesidescp.org.uk/