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Amplifying Voices: Understanding Romford’s Youth and Community

by EssexFilm ProductionLondon Borough of HaveringNew Projects

As part of our ongoing two-year collaboration with the Community Safety Team at Havering Council, we have been working closely with local residents to better understand the community’s needs and concerns. Over the past few weeks, we have been actively filming and building a storyboard for our project, which is centered around documenting the thoughts and concerns of Romford residents, particularly young people. Our goal has been to gauge how safe they feel in the town and to explore their ideas on what improvements could be made to foster a stronger, more connected community.

By capturing the authentic voices of local people, especially those of young residents who are often misunderstood, we aim to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the area. With limited recreational options available, young people frequently gather in the town center, and this has sometimes led to disturbances. Through this project, we seek to highlight these issues and explore solutions.

Key Objectives of Our Project

1. Capture Authentic Voices:
Through our filming efforts, we have recorded genuine reactions and stories from community members. These narratives provide a rich, in-depth perspective that goes beyond what surveys alone can capture, offering a more comprehensive view of the community’s sentiments and experiences.

2. Highlight Community Impact:
We are shedding light on the serious issue of youth violence and its impact on young people in the community. Our goal is to bring awareness to these challenges and work collaboratively to find effective solutions to create a safer environment.

3. Engage Diverse Demographics:
We have ensured that our project is inclusive of all age groups, with a special focus on incorporating the voices of young people while also respecting their privacy. This inclusive approach helps us to better understand the different needs and perspectives within the community.

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Youth Unity CIC

Community-Focused Filming Project on Local Bus Route in Cambridge

by Film ProductionNew Projects

Over the past few weeks, we have been actively filming and building a storyboard around our community-focused project to document the thoughts and concerns of residents regarding the local bus route. Our objective has been to understand how the bus service is utilised and its significance to the community. By capturing the authentic voices of residents, we have gained a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the impact the bus route has on their daily lives. This project aims to highlight the importance of the bus service and the far-reaching effects its potential removal could have on people of all ages.

Capture Authentic Voices: Through our filming efforts, we have recorded genuine reactions and stories from community members, providing a rich, in-depth perspective that goes beyond what surveys alone can achieve.

Highlight Community Impact: We have focused on the areas around bus stops at risk of closure to illustrate how the potential service cut would affect the local population.

Engage Diverse Demographics: We have ensured representation from all age groups, with a specific strategy for including young people’s voices while respecting privacy concerns.

This project is commissioned by Westco and working in partnership with Girl About Social
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Stories Like Ours
films that can reach young people

by Film ProductionNew Projects

These films act as more than just stories; they are powerful tools that speak directly to the hearts of young individuals, providing a visual backdrop to the empowering words shared

We are thrilled to announce that we now have access to three compelling intervention short films, aptly titled “Stories Like Ours.” These stories where given to us by Tom Watt, and the full endorsement goes to The ACED Project CIC.

These films serve as a powerful tool in our mission to connect with and inspire the young minds we engage with, particularly during our detached youth work sessions.

In these sessions, we focus on reaching out to hard-to-reach young individuals within our communities. “Stories Like Ours” aims to reignite a sense of connection and understanding among these youth, providing a platform for them to see reflections of their own experiences and challenges.

Moreover, these remarkable short films have been curated to play a crucial role in our efforts to educate young people about making informed life choices. The snippets you find here are just a glimpse into the impactful narratives that await.

If you’re intrigued and wish to delve deeper into the stories, we invite you to reach out. Consider this an open invitation to connect, and perhaps we can arrange a workshop to explore these films in a more immersive and engaging setting.

Let’s embark on a journey of storytelling, empathy, and positive change together. 🌟

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How easy is it to be GROOMED

by Film ProductionFilmsStopNAsk

Unfortunately, it can be relatively easy for individuals to be groomed in criminal exploitation, especially if they are vulnerable or have a difficult home life. Criminal exploitation involves the manipulation and control of vulnerable individuals for the purpose of committing crimes, such as drug trafficking, theft, or prostitution.

Grooming is a process that involves building trust and emotional connections with the victim in order to gain control over them. The grooming process often starts with the perpetrator identifying a vulnerable individual, such as a child or someone with a history of abuse or neglect. The perpetrator then seeks to establish a relationship with the individual, often by providing them with gifts, attention, or a sense of belonging.

Over time, the perpetrator may use their influence and control to manipulate the victim into participating in criminal activities. This can involve coercion, threats, or even physical violence.

It’s important to note that anyone can be targeted for grooming, regardless of age, gender, or background. However, there are certain factors that can make individuals more vulnerable to grooming, such as a lack of social support, low self-esteem, or a history of trauma.

If you or someone you know is being groomed for criminal exploitation, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Please check the bottom our page for resources to seek help!

Video: Paul McKenzie

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Chicken Shop Grooming

by Arts & CultureFilm Production

‘Chicken shop grooming’ is a form of child exploitation prevalent throughout the UK, which has not received widespread public attention until recently. Young people on their way home from school are bought food by an acquaintance or stranger over a number of days and start to unknowingly accrue debt”. Paul McKenzie

“Chicken shop grooming” refers to a form of child exploitation where perpetrators target vulnerable young people in or around fast-food outlets, especially in urban areas. These locations are popular with young people, making it easier for predators to engage with them. The grooming process typically involves gaining the trust of the young person by offering free food, money, or other incentives, gradually leading to various forms of exploitation, such as sexual exploitation or coercion into criminal activities. This practice highlights the need for increased awareness and intervention in everyday places where such grooming might be overlooked.

“Chicken shop grooming” has become an increasingly significant concern, particularly in urban areas where fast-food outlets are common hangouts for young people. The problem has grown as perpetrators exploit these public spaces to target vulnerable youths, offering them free food or money to gain their trust before leading them into various forms of exploitation.

Over time, the threat has evolved due to factors like the growing accessibility of these environments and the increasing sophistication of grooming techniques. Perpetrators have become more adept at identifying and manipulating vulnerable individuals, making it harder for authorities and communities to detect and prevent these activities. This shift has underscored the urgent need for enhanced awareness, preventative measures, and stronger community vigilance to protect young people from such exploitation.

How to tackle the problem of “chicken shop grooming,” a multi-faceted approach is needed that involves the community, authorities, and young people themselves. Here are some key strategies:

  1. Education and Awareness: Schools, parents, and community organisations should educate young people about the risks of grooming and how to recognise suspicious behavior. Raising awareness among fast-food outlet staff to identify and report grooming activities can also be crucial.
  2. Increased Surveillance and Security: Authorities can work with local businesses to increase surveillance in areas where young people gather, including installing CCTV cameras and increasing police patrols.
  3. Safe Spaces for Youth: Communities should invest in safe recreational spaces and youth programs that provide alternative places for young people to spend their time, reducing their exposure to potential groomers in unsupervised settings.
  4. Community Engagement: Encouraging community members to be vigilant and report suspicious activities can create a safer environment. Partnerships between police, social services, and local businesses can help monitor and address the issue.
  5. Support for Victims: Providing accessible support services for young people who may have been targeted, including counseling and legal assistance, is essential for their recovery and for preventing further exploitation.
  6. Stronger Legal Frameworks: Governments can enhance laws and regulations to better address grooming activities and prosecute offenders effectively, while also holding businesses accountable for failing to prevent exploitation on their premises.

By implementing these measures, communities can work together to protect young people and reduce the prevalence of chicken shop grooming.

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Short Film About Making Right Choices

by Arts & CultureFilm ProductionFilms

William - A short story of making the right choices - Produced by Paul McKenzie

This film is part of an interactive workshop. Please get in touch if you would like to know more. admin@youthunity.org

‘WILLIAM’ is a hard-hitting production that aims to raise awareness, kick-start conversations and build resilience around youth violence – with a focus on grooming and county lines – as part of a public health approach to tackling the issue – an issue that is seeing young people targeted. Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous situations.

The production be targeted at two different groups:–

  • Young people (year 13+) 
  • Parents, carers, teachers & professionals working with children & young people 

WILLIAM is a young man with a great future as a professional footballer. He lives in a community that is suffering the impact of serious youth violence and grooming. Many of the youth are already aware that there are “olders” that target young people to join county lines.
William is the victim of this.

He is being pressured to sell drugs on his local estate. William is reluctant to continue and has chosen to confront his manipulative older.  The story highlights the pressures that young people face and the choices they have to make.

William is also being pressured by his girlfriend to buy her gifts and he can only do this by selling drugs to raise the money.

This short film highlights the challenges involved in making the right decision to refuse the lure of groomers. 

The short film aims to:

  • Raise awareness around the risks and consequences of criminal explolitation in young people on the individual and on their friends, families and on the wider community

  • Build resilience by raising awareness, creating a common language and kick-starting conversations around the influences, fears and pressures that can lead to the decision to hurt someone or to carry a knife and how these can be managed or avoided

  • Build resilience by raising awareness of and promoting the core skills (including but not limited to: self-confidence, self-esteem, risk assessment, emotional intelligence, empathy, decision making, recognising healthy relationships) that can be used help young people to navigate a whole host of issues, critical moments and adverse childhood experiences that they may encounter

  • Raise awareness around the importance of seeking help and advice or telling someone if they are concerned about themselves, a friend or someone they know.

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There are several reasons why making the right choice can be difficult:

  • Complexity: Many decisions involve multiple factors and considerations, making them complex. It can be challenging to weigh the pros and cons, assess risks, and anticipate potential outcomes.
  • Uncertainty: The future is unpredictable, and decisions often involve unknown variables. The lack of complete information can make it difficult to determine the best course of action.
  • Emotional factors: Emotions can cloud judgment and influence decision-making. Fear, stress, or personal biases can impact our ability to objectively assess the situation and make rational decisions.
  • Consequences: Decisions often have consequences, and the fear of making the wrong choice can lead to decision paralysis. The fear of making a mistake or regretting a decision can make it hard to move forward.
  • Pressure: External pressures, such as societal expectations, opinions of others, or time constraints, can add to the difficulty of decision-making. Feeling pressured to meet certain standards or expectations can create stress and impact decision-making.

Despite these challenges, there are several strategies that can help in making better decisions, such as gathering information, considering different perspectives, evaluating pros and cons, seeking advice from trusted sources, and taking the time to reflect and weigh the options. It’s important to remember that making mistakes is a part of the learning process, and sometimes, there may not be a single “right” choice. The key is to approach decision-making with a thoughtful and rational mindset, considering all available information and taking responsibility for the choices made.

 
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SICK The Movie about Mental Health

by Arts & CultureFilm ProductionFilms

During half-term, we brought together seven young individuals to embark on an ambitious film project that addresses the urgent need for greater focus on mental health. We didn’t rely on knives or guns; our only weapons were passion and a commitment to change the narrative. This project aims to shed light on the mental health struggles that many young people experience, often showing signs early on. It was these challenges that inspired the creation of SICK, a short film dedicated to addressing this critical issue.

To reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, we must recognise it as a concern for everyone.

Film provides a powerful platform to bring mental health into the spotlight, offering a way to approach sensitive subjects with care and openness. Our screenings serve as a catalyst for discussion, helping people navigate difficult conversations, foster empathy, and ultimately, reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

SICK made history as the first short film ever to be screened at the prestigious National Gallery in London

Award Winning

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Golden State Film Festival - 2021 (1)
OFFICIAL SELECTION - World Cine Fest - 2021 (2)
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Erith – Film Workshops

by Film Production

Working in partnership with Bexley Community Safety to empower the people of Erith through the Arts with projects that inspire to leave a lasting legacy, and help to build community relationships … this is the film part of the project

Youth Unity meet a group of young people in Erith through our Outreach Work and took them on a film making journey, we engaged over 25 young people over 6 weeks to make an awareness film highlighting BULLYING.  Through this journey we formed friendship groups from different schools in the borough. 

The young people who took part will continue working with Youth Unity on future projects and work with us to help spread awareness that being KIND is important.

The awareness film will be used as an education piece to empower other young people from all areas.

Screening of the short film will be this Summer. 

Our film projects took place working with The Exchange, Erith .. an amazing community space

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Photo's of our filming project ...
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51st State Festival: What advice would you give your younger self?

by Arts & CultureFilm ProductionFilms

The promoters of 51st State supported Youth Unity by giving a stand to promote the work we do to help young people and the community.

We asked festival goers “What Advice Would They Give Their Younger Self?” we had some great comments.

We had so much fun!!

Thank you to our sponsors

MS Webb, Cornerstone Group and Tesco Bags of Help, most importantly, thank you to 51st State for the opportunity!

51st State Festival August 2021
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HAD IT YET? Film Documentary in the pandemic

by Arts & CultureCovid-19Film ProductionFilmsLondon Borough of HaveringNew Projects

This short film highlights some of the concerns and challenges that a community has faced living through a pandemic along with their thoughts on the vaccination.

With the increasing demand for an answers to how we can all remain safe in the current climate of COVID-19, and the need for clarity in regards to the vaccination requirements, we took to the streets of Havering to ask people in public how they experienced the various lockdowns and also to ask them what they thought about the vaccine.

I have already had the vaccine
1 %
definately would
1 %
would not take
1 %
unsure
1 %