Young refugees from Action Foundation’s Young Lives project have been working with film maker, Tom Bing, to produce a powerful piece entitled ‘Small Matters.’

The short film, which was launched to a rapt audience at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music, underlines the importance of listening to children and young people with lived experience of migration.

Young Lives manager, Bridget Stratford, worked with freelance film maker, Tom, to produce the film at Quay Studio, North Shields.

Bridget explained the reason behind making ‘Small Matters.’

“When refugee children arrive in the UK, a lot of the decisions about what will happen to them are made for them. It’s often with their best interests at heart, but without lived experience it’s hard for services to really get it right. Involving young people in making choices gives them back some autonomy and helps create effective programmes which are designed by the people who use them”

The film features young people aged between 10 and 18 from the Young Lives leadership programme, speaking about why it’s important to have their voices heard.

Watch the film here

Narrator, Mumin Ellafi, 14, says in the film: “What if you involved me in decisions about education, my foster care, my future?

“What could be achieved if you engaged with tomorrow’s change makers today? We know what it’s like to start again, to grieve an old life while trying to create a new one, to be misunderstood or to not be heard, to not be listened to.”

“Who better to build services for refugee children than refugee children? Our voice is powerful, powerful to make a difference, powerful to rebuild systems, powerful to advocate.”

Around 70 people from a wide variety of organisations attended the launch on Friday March 7, including representatives from local authorities, theatre companies, universities and the youth charity sector.

“It was wonderful to speak to the young people and hear their stories and experiences of what they have enjoyed in connection with Action Foundation,” said one visitor.

Another commented: “Such fantastic and inspiring young people.”

“A truly thought-provoking day,” another added.

Bridget said she was hugely grateful to the Glasshouse for hosting and supporting the event. The Glasshouse is currently working towards becoming a Theatre of Sanctuary.

Bridget added: “All the young people from the leadership team were very proud to see their film being staged and to have someone to listen to their voices and I was extremely proud of the event, the film and the young people and how much we have achieved together as a leadership programme.

“It’s so important to listen to young people’s voices and I was so happy to see how confident the children were to stand up and speak about their opinions and experiences.”

  • Bridget and the young people spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle’s Gilly Hope about the film. You can listen again here.