Last month, a group of children who take part in the Bell Gardens Animation Club run on the estates around Old Kent Road in South London won two major Into Film Awards for a beautiful short movie they created about overcoming the stigma of using their local food bank.

The film which is called ‘The Foodbank and the Fidget Spinner’ is a great example of how we can tell important stories together and how these stories are even more powerful when they are told, made and shared by those affected by the issues the stories are about.

The 11 children, ranging in age from 6 to 13 years old, bagged the awards for ‘Best Animation’ and ‘Audience’s Choice’ at the A-list red carpet event on 4^th March at the Odeon Leicester Square, accompanied by their teachers, mentors and filmmakers Rainbow Collective. The production of the film was supported by Rainbow Collective, Southwark Group of Tenant Organisations and the Tenant Management Fund. The film was viewed 14,000 times during the voting process and it is a must watch!

Ben, aged 13 said ‘We made this film to show that nobody should be bullied for being poor…We live in Peckham close to a foodbank and we wanted to highlight the work they do to help stop families suffering from hunger’.

These are clearly a talented group of children who were involved in every aspect of making this film, they show how everyone, no matter what age they are, has a talent or ‘asset’ to bring to the table. The film is narrated by one of the group and they wrote, directed, produced and made the models with support from filmmakers. We loved (spoiler alert!) the photographs of the children in the end credits showing them shaping the models, creating the scenery and directing the production. This story really stood out to us because the film is a wonderful illustration of how we can co-create award winning communications about important issues that affect our health and wellbeing.