Tees Valley teens to make film about adoption

Tees Valley teens to make film about adoption

A group of 12-to-18-year-olds from the Tees Valley are working with professional artists to make a film about their experiences of being adopted.

The project is the result of a new partnership between North East-based charity, Blue Cabin, and Adoption Tees Valley.

The group are working with two of Blue Cabin’s Associate Artists, Laura Degnan and Nic Golightly, who are experts in co-creating with care-experienced children and young people.

Jenny Young, Director of Blue Cabin, explained: “Over a period of six months, these young women will work alongside our Associate Artists to make a film which will tell their friends, teachers, and professionals who support care-experienced children and young people, what it’s like to be adopted.

“They want to tell people about adoption from the perspective of the young people at the centre of it, and help people understand what support they and other children and young people need.”

The group will be learning about stop motion animation, film-making and graphic design, including methods they can put into practice in the future using smartphones.

They will have the chance to learn more about working as an artist or film maker and it is hoped the project will also have a positive impact on their confidence and relationships with others.

The group, who have named themselves Adopt Bats, said: “We’re making an amazing film with cameras, people’s voices, hands and play doh. We’re doing some voice recordings and stop motion at the moment, but we’re going to be doing loads more too. It’s probably going to make us famous.

“It’s a new adventure, with an amazing cast of people. We’ve really bonded!”

Vicky Davidson Boyd, service manager for Adoption Tees Valley, said “We are so proud of these young people, who are using their experiences to develop more awareness for professionals and the public about issues facing adopted children as they grow up. This film will make a real difference and will help other adopted young people, as well as being an empowering experience for the young women involved.” 

The project follows a similar format to Blue Cabin’s previous work in Redcar and Cleveland, which saw children and young people aged between eight and 21 produce an animated film called The Studio of the Fostered Heroes. The film has been screened at events with local authority staff and councillors and has been shortlisted for two awards.

Find out more at www.wearebluecabin.com.

Photo credit: A young person from Tees Valley working with Blue Cabin Associate Artist, Nic Golightly. Photo by Callum Toy.