What We Do
SHORT FILM LAUNCHED EXPLORING IMPACT OF MENTAL ILL HEALTH ON OLDER AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS
- Date: 22 July, 2011
- Centre: Belfast Foyer Bytes
A hard hitting new short film exploring the impact of mental ill health on young and older people was launched at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre on Thursday 16th June 2011.
A hard hitting new short film exploring the impact of mental ill health on young and older people was launched at Belfast’s Crescent Arts Centre on Thursday 16th June 2011 and was viewed by over 50 guests including Marian Kelly, who represented the Department for Culture Arts and Leisure.
Turning Point, created by young people who attend The Bytes Project at Simon Community’s Belfast Foyer and elderly people from Malton Fold in Taughmonagh, explores issues of mental health relevant to both the older and younger generation.
Covering themes such as suicide, guilt, isolation and loneliness, the film provides a true reflection of the poignancy of people in this situation, but also highlights the help and support available if you reach out for it.
The film has been produced with funding provided by The Bytes Project and Taughmonagh Community Forum; Open Doors Project, through the Big Lottery Fund.
Funded with a grant of £460,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, The Bytes Project aims to help homeless young people aged 16-25 improve their IT and life skills towards education, employment and independent living.
The intergenerational project work has been on-going now for two years. The work has included two art murals created reflecting the journey from young to old and a history project looking at social issues in Belfast as well as the film.
Bytes Project Development Officer, Amanda Stewart, who helped created the film alongside up and coming film maker, Paul McParland, said: “The group have worked really hard to produce the film and for a lot of the participants this involved an emotional journey also. They should all be commended for their brilliant efforts.”
Pauline Irwin Co-ordinator of Malton Fold said of the project “You never know what to expect from a project, this has been a great journey for everyone involved and a Turning Point that no one will forget!”
The DVD will be made available as a resource for other community groups and it can be viewed on YouTube by the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui4aoeVysDw
For further information or a copy of Turning Point contact Amanda Stewart at The Bytes Project on 02890 682678 or email belfastfoyer@bytes.org