Story So Far
With funding from the Arts Council National Lottery Fund we began an 8-month pilot project to build community, agency, confidence and skills through film and photography.
We’re now a new family or over 20 participants interesting in film and photography. We meet at least once a week and also share support and ideas via a Whatsapp group, shared email, Instagram, Facebook and You Tube as well as in-person at other groups, day trips and social events.
We’ve made our first films including:
A youth voice film commissioned by Dr. Lee Crookes, University of Sheffield
Shown at:
- A conference attended by council members, councillors, regeneration team, local young people and community stakeholders
- You Tube
- Heeley Trust staff and volunteer meetings
- Local showing at 189 Project
- Various departments of Sheffield Council and Regeneration Team
“The film was so good. Some excellent points from the interviewees. Very emotive. Loved it!”
Katie, Community Worker
Local introductory films to share with the community about what we’re doing and inviting them to join us
Global introductory films makes by the Gleadless Valley and Aguablanca, Colombia groups to introduce themselves and share news
“These films have been a real eye-opener for people at the council and have generated important conversations. People didn’t realise the conditions people are living in there.”
Ian, Council Worker
We’re working with our sister group in Aquablanca Colombia and forging strong and supportive connections with local organisations including:
- Gleadless Valley Foodbank and 189 Project
- Growing Circles
- Heeley Trust
- The University of Sheffield
- Rotherham and Sheffield Wildlife Trust
- Sheffield City Council
- Gleadless Valley Regeneration Team
We were commissioned by Growing Circles and Heeley Trust to make photojournalism pieces about the Gleadless Valley area for the Regeneration Team. We also led the Council, architects and developers on a tour of the area.
We were commissioned by Sheffield City Council to take images of Gleadless Valley for them to use in their online and print publications and for the presentations to bring funding to the area.
The BBC did TV, online and radio pieces about how the group is helping to shape redevelopment of the neighbourhood.
We set up as a CIC. We make decisions as a group and have established the need for more presence in the community and more engagement for young people. We run free workshops and competitions for young people, have worked with the Happy Saplings children’s group and have been offered a reduced rent as support in-kind for space in am empty shopping precinct by 189 Project.
We’ve held two jam-packed exhibitions in one of the shop units.
“Exhibitions like this are such and excellent way to bring the community together. I know it’s not easy, but you’ve got so many people all pulling together”
George, Community Worker
