Cambridge Junction's Reel Stories project

Cambridge Junction is both a charity and social enterprise that aims to remove barriers so that everyone has the opportunity to take part in creative activities.

Reel stories – empowering young people through film

With support from the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund, Cambridge Junction received a grant to support the delivery of a film-making course to young people from Olive AP Academy, an alternative school in Cambridge for young people not in mainstream education.

A primary aim of the project was to engage young people in a creative activity while developing their skills in filmmaking. Participants took on key roles including acting, directing, and operating filmmaking equipment.

The project was carefully structured to foster teamwork and collaboration. Students were required to navigate creative differences, allocate roles, support one another, and communicate effectively throughout the filmmaking process. In doing so, they developed a range of transferable skills that will serve them beyond the life of the project.

An Olive AP Academy teacher commented that “They have come back with a more mature mindset which has made it easier to teach them… it’s made it a lot easier to engage them in their GCSEs.”

But one of the most powerful outcomes was the sense of pride and excitement participants experienced when watching their completed film – this was a crucial moment of recognition and validation. They had created something original, creative, and of real value.

“
We’re all working together as a proper team. We respect everyone’s opinions – a bit of everyone’s ideas has been included in this.
”
Reel Stories participant

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