Life Works is a partnership with Parkstone United Reformed Church offering basic skills training, volunteer opportunities and work experience to a range of people. Our Community Projects Young Volunteers Programme supports learning disabled young people to champion their ideas; follow their vocational interest and achieve formal accreditation in an informal learning environment.
In 2017 we supported 10 Young Film Makers to get commissioned by Arts Council to work with Calling the Shots and make a 3 minute art film for Channel 4’s Random Acts called ‘Supercrips, Dartington’.
This project lit a fuse and in 2018 the young film makers worked together to produce their very own Arts Festival at Dartington Hall – Festival Ordinary Art. The 2-day event involved Relaxed Screenings at the Barn Cinema and a Curated Screening of 10 Random Act films made by learning disabled young film makers from across England; a contribution from Bigger House films, and the public premiere of their film. The Young Film Makers hosted the event and led a post screening Q+A with the audience. The festival was a wholly inclusive event:
-“For once my sister wasn’t the outsider”
– “The way the young people explained how they felt was an eye-opener. Fantastic, Brilliant.”
– “Films were really inspiring – Supercrips excellent – I hope it’s shown widely. Interesting hearing Q & A with curators”
Our Mission now is to work with our young volunteers to build on their experience and support their progression; to connect with film makers across the SW and potentially work in the film industry.