Young people who have been brought up in care are making plans with a York company to make a film about their lives.

The youngsters who are all part of the Springboard project to help those leaving care, have got together with film makers Biomation to chart their lives over the next three years.

They want to make the film themselves, using cameras and phones and a mix of animation, film and photography with their own music and writing.

Film-makers Dan Axon and Simon Collins say they hope to make the film in building blocks, beginning with a short film and adding in different voices and different experiences with a sound track so that it builds up over the years.

Simon said: “It is very unusual and is a really exciting creative challenge to work on a film like this over three years”.

The youngsters say they want to make a film which is fun for other people to watch.

They say they do not want to make a “documentary” because they feel that could put off people.

Sarah, one of the people on the project, said: “Just the word is so boring, it makes you think of films of canals.”

Project workers at Springboard, which has been set up with National Lottery funding by Leeds charity Foundation, say the film is part of a much bigger project which will help young people up to the age of 25 learn how to set up independent, happy lives.

The project has been designed to tackle problems the young people have with confidence and self esteem and trust in authority figures through mentoring, work placements, and leisure activities.

Springboard has set up work placements in conjunction with the charity York Cares and North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership, including a Betty’s Cookery Course for a young man, Josh, work with York Archaeological Trust for Ruth and a creative writing course for Scott. York project worker Tamsin Trevorrow-Earl, said: “These young people have been through very stressful circumstances. Often they are moved from one foster home to another and may have led very unsettled lives.”

Tamsin hopes the film will help reduce the stigma they face as they try to move on into jobs.

She said: “Just because they are care leavers doesn’t mean they are trouble makers, a lot of our young people come from circumstances that have impacted their lives negatively through no fault of their own.

“The young people I work with are very quick thinking and very clever with a lot of skills and talents.

“We help enable their qualities and skills by creatively finding ways to help them deal with issues they may have.

“They can get their dreams, we are here to help them go for it.”

The Project

The Springboard Project is open to anybody up to the age of 25 in York, Selby or Ryedale who has lived in care.  Anyone interested can contact Springboard at SpringboardProject@ foundationuk.org or phone 07891 854493.