Producer Belinda Williams and Producer/Director/Filmmaker Nick Oldham have extensive experience in storytelling, creative and documentary programme making; being able to work closely with contributors and communities to produce intimate, insightful and challenging content for different broadcast platforms.

Our work combines an empathy with the subject matter together with filming of closely observed details in many different situations from stories featuring night time battles on riverbanks with salmon poachers to films that portray the lives of young people in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

As part of our on-going nationwide project, Campaign Trail – working to give a voice to young parents – Media19 travelled to Coleraine, North Ireland to work with ‘da’ Young Fathers’ Project from Derry.

Living in Derry has had its impact on the lives of young people and through Campaign Trail, this group of fathers are using digital media to create posters and films that talk about how they feel, the challenges they face, legacies they’ve inherited and the legacy they hope to leave their own children as ‘Dads’.

On a three day residential at the peace and reconciliation centre, Kilcranny House; near Coleraine, Media19 worked with a group of both young and older fathers.

Working together in creative workshops the group explored their experiences of being a young father- who they are, how they feel and the things they want to change – exploring what they want to say and creating their own unique messages and statements.

Using digital cameras and flip cameras the group developed their digital media skills which they used to produce their own images, films and personal messages exploring their experiences as fathers, what they hope for in the future and the legacy they hope to leave for their children.

‘I’ve made mistakes in my life but without them I wouldn’t be where I am. Hopefully when my child is older they will have the ability to learn from my mistakes and have a better life than I did. As long as they are healthy and happy I will be proud.’ Kyle, 24

‘Only I can decide what and where I will be in the future as long as I am willing to work hard and be patient' Darren, 24

‘This is a photo of me and the wain at my sister’s first communion. In the background you can see a photo of me and my two sisters as well and my granddad who passed away two years ago. This photo shows everyone in my life who is special to me. I only see the wain once a month if I am lucky so this picture reminds me of my past, my future and where I want to go.’ Cathair, 17

Media19 are continuing to work in partnership with ‘da’ creating further digital content to form part of a public awareness campaign that will draw attention to the often hidden voice of young fathers.

It’s been 5 years since all 306 were granted a full pardon by the British Government and this film (made prior to that pardon) recalls the campaign of one relative seeking justice for his great Uncle and portrays the events and circumstances that led to the final tragic execution by firing squad.

FILM YOURSELF TOMORROW FOR BRITAIN IN A DAY – Saturday 12^th November Midnight to Midnight

Media19 have been involved in hosting regional workshops to support people from the North East to film aspects of their daily life, whether ordinary or special and contribute to a picture of Britain today.

We will also be supporting people on the day of filming, whether it’s their favourite hobby or activity, their usual Saturday routine or their entire day! Once the films have been shot we will also be on hand for anyone requiring help to upload their films to YouTube between the 12th November-21st November.

Don’t forget tomorrow, Saturday 12 November is the day to  pick up your camera and film your day. Britain in a Day is a fantastic opportunity for us to create a lasting portrait of the UK in 2011. Record your thoughts, hopes and aspirations, then upload them to the Britain in a Day channel. You’ll be helping to create an amazing archive and your film could be included in an historic BBC documentary in 2012. Get started at youtube.com/britaininaday  and www.bbc.co.uk/britaininaday

For further information regarding Campaign Trail see Projects or click here.

A young parent visits the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) as part of Campaign Trail, a cross-platform, digital project working with young parents to produce peer-to-peer education, sexual health and community projects on teenage parenting. Though a series of local walks, participants have documented their local area and facilities to campaign for improved access for young parents living in isolated urban communities. Campaign Trail is funded is produced by Media19, with funding from PHF Social Justice Programme. Photograph by Gilmar Ribeiro.

With support from experienced media producers, a series of creative workshops enable the participants to develop their skills in using digital photography, film, video archive, research and written texts to produce imaginative digital content for their peer to peer education projects, public awareness and community campaigns, for others to learn from.

Their powerful and moving images, produced as posters, video and digital content are used within education, public exhibition, health, online, broadcast and community settings to influence and inspire their peers to make informed parenting, sexual health and relationship choices. Over the past two years Campaign Trail has worked in partnership with projects in the Northumberland, Cumbria, Teesside and Yorkshire regions.

SELF PORTRAIT YOUNG PARENTS
In Northumberland, young parents from Northumberland Care Trust’s ‘Been There, Done That!’ Peer Education programme are campaigning for better SRE in schools and community settings and have produced short films and posters to use in peer education workshops. Their aim is to give young people the skills and information to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationship choices and to support professionals in setting up peer education programmes in different areas of the northeast.

HOPE STREET
The Surestart ‘Yummy Mummy’s’ Group at The Clarences Community Centre, Stockton on Tees have used photography to research and explore their local area, creating an audio show reel and a series of poster images to communicate the issues affecting young parents living within an isolated community like theirs.
    

FUTURE ME
At Health for All, Leeds, young parents from ‘The Boost Group’ have used photgraphy and archive research to explore the experiences of young families from past to present and the challenges they have faced and overcome. The posters they have produced will be used in local schools to inspire their peers – young parents and young parents to be – to be positive about their own futures and become strong role models for their own children and families.

“Many people think that when you have a baby so young it has ruined your life or that you are unable to achieve your dreams and ambitions but that’s just not true. Our project ‘Future Me’ intends to challenge those preconceptions and help give us a better chanc efor a positive future.’

MESSAGES FROM DIFFERENT MINDS
A peer education media and public awareness project for Campaign Trail UK by young mothers from The Getaway Girls in Leeds; raising awareness of the experiences and challenges faced by young women who become teenage mothers, focusing on; relationships, education, housing, employment and childcare. The young mums produced short films and posters to use in peer to peer education.

WHAT MAKES a MUM?
In Cumbria, young parents from the Project John Housing Action Project and Action For Children’s ‘Young Parents two Be’ and ‘Parents with Prospects’ projects in Barrow in Furness have designed – ‘What Makes a Mum?’ – a series of short films and poster images to promote positive parenting amongst their peers; using their own experiences to create strong visual messages to share with their peers about the ups and downs of becoming a parent when you are a teenager.

FROM LADS to DADS
A new campaign for Campaign Trail UK, led by young father’s from Northumberland’s ‘Let’s Work’ project in partnership with Northumberland Teenage Pregnancy Team. They are producing resources to support their peer education programme and influence young men’s lives; focusing on issues of access, social exclusion, self-esteem and being a good father.

WORKSHOPS
A number of creative workshops held over a 6-8 week period covered research, production of films, images and text, post production and exhibition planning. Each of the groups develop digital media and communication skills, helping the participants to become confident producers, in creating films, images and campaigns that effectively communicates their personal messages.

Research Workshops gave participants the opportunity to look at archive material held within county records and online databases to research and identify the experiences of young parents. The groups then develop and collate their own ideas and experiences to present in films, images and campaigns.

Production Workshops supported the groups in using digital imaging and video to record aspects of their daily lives relating to their experiences of being a young parent to create their own short films and images.  For example In Teesside, participants from the Yummy Mummys Project engaged in a series of location based, mapping projects, using digital imaging to record and document key ‘journey’s’ reflecting on their own personal experiences and highlighting key locations that relate to their public awareness campaign for Campaign Trail UK – Hope Street.

Post Production Workshops involved producing content for the pan-regional and national events. The groups were actively involved in the planning of these events and exhibitions to present their work and campaigns.

EXHIBITION and EVENTS
CTUK and its work aim to make a positive contribution to the on-going national debates, media representation and policy solutions for the next generation. Through a number of successful events across the UK the participants have been able to present their messages and work to the public.

Campaign Trail Launch – Newcastle City Library; 29th October 2010
A Pan-regional event held at to launch the end of the CTUK’s first year. The event brought together representatives from participating groups who presented their poster images and a series of short videos produced for their distinct projects and campaigns.

We Are Here/Campaign Trail UK Exhibition Launch – 12 Star Gallery, Europe House, London; 16th February 2011
At the opening event for the ‘Campaign Trail UK/We Are Here – Young People Speak Out’ Exhibition, project participants from Barrow in Furness and Northumberland presented their work and spoke publicly about their lives and experiences to an influential audience including leading figures such as Dame Clare Tickell, the CEO of Action for Children.

SEE THE ONLINE REVIEW – on http://www.wearehere.tv/news

Project John Launch – The Forum, Barrow-In-Furness; 19th January 2011
At this launch event for Barrow-In-Furness; What Makes a Mum? Project, participants premiered their short films and poster images. This was also a chance to share their experiences and support other young mums and young mums to be in their local area.

Selected work from the campaigns was displayed on a number of bus stop billboards throughout the Westminster area in London.
    

BROADCAST
The films created by the young mums from Barrow in Furness and Northumberland featured as a single programme broadcast over 3 days, on The Community Channel.

Campaign Trail Images: