Image Credit: Kev Curran/Scott Acoz Photography
FutureHY, York Travellers Trust, and Inspired Youth Collaborative Project - Human: The Voice of Young Travellers"
Young people from York Travellers Trust, are hosting a film showcase on Thursday 3rd February 2022 at Everyman Cinema, York. Working in collaboration with FutureHY and Inspired Youth, young people have created a short film called “Human: The Voice of Young Travellers”. The film focuses on challenging the perceptions of young Travellers and shedding light on the stigma and discrimination that they face. The narrative for the film was written and recorded by the group, highlighting their experiences, aspirations, and hopes for the future. York St John University, where FutureHY is based, kindly provided support by allowing the young people to use the film and tv recording facilities to create parts of the film and record some scenes on campus.
Doors open at 10am and the film will be premiered at 10:30am. Following the film screening, the audience are invited to stay for a Q&A with those involved in the project.
The event is free to attend and open to all ages. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite via this link: https://bit.ly/3ocrCUz
Violet Cannon, CEO of York Travellers Trust (YTT) said: “YTT are proud and honoured to have worked with these wonderful young people, they have stepped outside their comfort zone to voice their fears and concerns. Our young people have pushed through those fears to create a wonderful resource in which they give a real voice to themselves and their peers. We are truly humbled by the amazing film they have created.”
Outreach Officer for FutureHY Jo Hall said: “It has been a wonderful opportunity for FutureHY to work with York Travellers Trust and the young people on the Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme. Working with Inspired Youth and making this film has enabled the young people to talk about the discrimination they face, the stigma that is attached to young Travellers and has given them the space to talk about their hopes and aspirations for the future. I feel proud of what we have all achieved and they should be very proud of themselves.”
Kev Curran, Director of Inspired Youth, said “I am incredibly proud of the film its message and the inspiring young people involved in shaping and creating it. It was both sad and shocking to hear young people talk about so many deeply upsetting personal experiences of discrimination at such a young age. The young people were passionate to say that it is never acceptable to prejudice a person for their race and ethnicity or to make someone feel less than human just because of where they come from.
The project highlights and celebrates the talents and skills of young Travellers, in contrast to negative stereotypes, showing that given the opportunity and space to grow in a non-judgemental environment they can achieve anything they want in life. It presents them as Human, full of potential, who have aspirations and dreams like any other young person.
Discrimination against Travellers is the last form of acceptable racism in society and through creating work like this we hope it can inspire dialogue in the community and change negative perceptions and stereotypes in order to create a more inclusive society.”
The event organisers wish to thank Everyman Cinema, York, for giving them use of their cinema free of charge.
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