Hello,
“We’ve only gone and won it”.
This amazing news came through on Wednesday evening. Live from the red carpet at the Odeon cinema, Leicester square, London.
The LandWorks film ‘One Day’ has won in its category in the Smiley Charity Film Awards. An incredible achievement, up against 16 other very good charities.
Graeme and Jennie Montgomery, two very talented film makers, had volunteered to spend two days filming with us in the summer of 2021. They then produced this powerful film about one day at LandWorks.
For me it is always about the people who are here on placement, graduates and those who took part in the film. Allowing and hearing their voices on the big Odeon screen in the Capital is a tremendous achievement.
But sitting quietly behind this great occasion is another story, equally as important, one that is remarkable as it is surprising, and I would like to share it with you.
As part of supporting One Day and its path to the award final we put the film out on our social media…
- This suddenly took off amongst the network of people on probation in Torbay and beyond. A cohort made up of some of societies most excluded individuals.
- It took off as only social media seems able to do.
- Some already knew about LandWorks, others did not.
- Many recognised the individuals in the film.
- These powerful testimonies of life changing experiences resonated throughout this cohort.
- It was passed around again and again.
- It became apparent that these troubled people were proud of the achievements of those they recognised in the film.
- This is unusual.
- Suddenly we were getting referrals from people asking to come to LandWorks because they had seen the film.
So, yes LandWorks did win a National film award and this is a fantastic recognition of the Montgomery’s great film making talents.
But really, it’s our guys who need, use, attend and love LandWorks, they won it.
Big time.
Chris
28th March 2024