Documentary film and a socials launch helping the SEND community take a stand
Grow Family Services is a not-for-profit organisation in Birmingham, launched by two mums who wanted to support a growing community of SEND parents. With a group of now over 300 parents meeting weekly, providing resources and group meets, the team wanted to make a film to lay out clearly the challenges they are facing – both with the government and the education system. With a small budget, and with a group of people holding very personal, sensitive stories, the film needed to be crafted carefully and in collaboration with Grow Family Services.
Using my Screen Stories process, the documentary was produced entirely remotely, with 15 parents, carers, children, and educational staff interviewed on Zoom over a period of two months. The interviews were edited together to create a 13-minute documentary, along with three shorter 3-5 minute films for social media. I also assisted Grow Family Services with a Facebook page launch to publish the films, and helped to distribute the film with Grow’s partner network.
The film was released onto Facebook and Youtube, and quickly gained traction across the country from other SEND Facebook Groups. It was shared hundreds of times by parents in similar situations. The film is now screened at SEND community days in Birmingham, and is used by schools as part of SEND teacher training.
“An incredibly powerful film that all parents and professionals working with children and young people should watch. In its 12 or so minutes, it tells a simple story, that is a subject lesson for everyone involved within the SEND ‘system’ – the healthcare, social care and education system that dominates (and all too often traumatises) the lives of disabled children and their families.
No one can listen to this video and not be moved. This extraordinary film is essential watching for everybody concerned to see that this reform is brought about.”
Luke Clements
Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice
The School of Law, Liberty Building University of Leeds
I create meaningful fundraising videos called Screen Stories through an online production process, combining interviews recorded over Zoom with compelling edits, to tell stories that need to be heard.
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