Telling a caring story on film

By Stephen Stafford
BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Bang Out of Order is a short film made by young carers in Southampton.

It portrays what it means to have to care for a family member and the difficulties carers can face at school and at home.

The 15-minute film was produced by Southampton-based community filmmaking resource, City Eye.

Katie Wood was 17 when she became involved through support group Southampton Young Carers (SYC).

Katie Wood in an extract from Bang Out of Order

Since her mother developed back problems after the birth of Katie's brother nine years ago, she has had to help look after her.

She had the added responsibility of looking after her grandparents and her brother, all of whom also have health problems.

"I'm the strongest shoulder that everyone cries on," said Katie.

It is estimated 100,000 under-18-year-olds around the UK are in a similar position of caring for a relative with an illness or disability.

Katie heard about the plans to make a film through SYC.

The film deals with young carers' problems at school

The prospect of being involved in a film about caring immediately gave Katie the chance to explain the issues, concerns and difficulties which thousands of young people like her face while having to look after a parent or other family member.

Katie believes that a lack of understanding from teachers, who did not appreciate the reasons behind her arriving late or failing to hand in homework, contributed to her problems.

"There was a lot of pain when I was at school - not everyone believed what a young carer was," she added.

She also experienced a lack of understanding among her peers:

I want to get this film and everything that we've got to say out in the open - we have a voice as well Katie Wood

"I was put down because I wasn't going out with my friends as often as everyone else as I had to look after somebody, or something needed doing at home.

"I didn't have as much of a childhood as my mates did. I just wanted to show everyone that I was hurting inside - that's why I did the film."

The rest of the newly-formed cast found they had similar experiences and were determined to air their feelings in classroom and playground scenarios.

Leading the project, David White, of City Eye, allowed the cast to improvise much of the dialogue despite the fact only a few had the barest experience of drama, and none had a filmmaking background.

Scenes were shot around Redbridge Community School

David said: "I'm a great believer in working with so-called 'amateurs' - the performances are far more honest, especially in Bang Out of Order as we were working with young people who are living what they are trying to tell."

All the action was shot around Redbridge Community School in Southampton during one, "very intense" day of filming.

The final result was shown at Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton, with Katie and the rest of the cast able to see themselves on the 'big screen'.

"It was the feeling of achievement - I was quite proud of myself. I've actually done this, other people are watching this - I really am glad I've done it," she said.

The project also generated a considerable amount of national interest.

Bang Out of Order has since been shown at various film festivals and scooped the 2009 UNICEF Audience Award at the pretigious Showcomotion Film Festival Awards in Sheffield.

Beyond the experience of making the film, Katie is passionate it makes a difference so that the wider community, other school pupils and teachers in particular know about the pressures young carers face and know how to deal with their particular needs.

"What we thought when we started was that maybe we can get young people who may not even realise they are 'carers' to put their hands up and realise they can get help," she explained.

Katie Wood with City Eye's David White

The Saucepans North Central Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team came up with the concept of the short as part of a series of five films entitled Project Honour, to voice the concerns of different groups of young people.

Saucepans' Beth Jacobs said: "I was just ecstatic at seeing it - I was really powerful. It's taken on a life of it's own and certainly made an impact across the city."

Katie also met Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England, and took the opportunity to impress on him the need for training for teachers dealing with bullying and young carers.

Three thousand DVD copies of the film have been sent to schools to help train teachers and change attitudes among students.

Now 18, Katie herself has plans to do voluntary work for Southampton Young Carers to support some of the younger people facing the same problems she had experienced."

"I want to help in counselling just so I can give something back - its a little thank you as they've helped me over the years. I want to get this film and everything that we've got to say out in the open - we have a voice as well."