Media students help to highlight loneliness and isolation

Ageing Better Middlesbrough has teamed up with first year BA (Hons) Television and Film Production students to create a film highlighting loneliness and social isolation across the town.

The students, Richard Fascia, Arron Bettley, Kareem Milligan and Rob Kitchen, worked with staff from Big Lottery funded programme Ageing Better Middlesbrough and older residents to develop their short film.

Rob said: 'My aunt suffered from loneliness so I could relate to this project. When doing the research I found the statistics around loneliness and isolation were hard hitting.'

Kareem added: 'We chose to do this project as we felt the older demographic isn't looked at enough.'

Ageing Better Middlesbrough aims to inspire older people to live more active, happy and healthier lives. The aim of the film is to highlight issues around loneliness and isolation and let people know how the project can help.

Rob added: 'It's disheartening seeing older people swept under the carpet when they have lots to offer the community.'

Sarah Jane Ashcroft, Network Development Manager at Ageing Better Middlesbrough, said: 'We are very excited about the film and are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the students. Their enthusiasm for the project was great.

'They met with us and older people from our advisory group to plan and develop the film. The brief we set the students was a difficult one and we think they have done a great job pulling it all together.'

She added: 'The film highlights the different ways Ageing Better Middlesbrough is working to reduce loneliness and isolation, from one-to-one support to joining our free membership scheme and receiving information about what’s happening locally.'

Rob said: 'The staff at Ageing Better Middlesbrough and older people we worked with were very passionate about the project and the best client. Having this as a final project brought together our first year, using what skills we have learned.”

Clare Fletcher, Placement and Project Officer at the School of Arts and Media: 'We often look for engaging and interesting organisations and briefs to help develop the student’s professional skills and experience. We were delighted Ageing Better Middlesbrough wanted to work with our students on this project.

'The students really engaged well with the brief and the film they have produced is both emotive and very effective. More importantly the experience of making the film I think has had a real effect on the students on a number of levels and this is brilliant to see. We are really proud of all of them and thank the team at Ageing Better Middlesbrough for the opportunity and the support they have offered the students.'

Watch the students' film here

If you or someone you know feels lonely or isolated the Ageing Better Middlesbrough team can be contacted on 01642 257030. More information is available on the Ageing Better Middlesbrough website

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