TRUETUBE OFFLINE – COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU!

On: 7th – 11th September
At: Carisma, 1 Parsonage Street, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5WD

TrueTube is travelling across the UK this summer and autumn, targeting groups of young people and giving them the opportunity to become involved in social and community action, using film as a tool for interaction.
Through its new project, named TrueTube Offline, the TrueVan – a van installed with three cameras, a video booth and editing equipment – is visiting 24 youth groups and festivals across the UK to offer 1,000 disadvantaged 16-25 year-olds the chance to make their own films on social, moral, community, political and environmental issues.
TrueTube is well renowned for helping young people to think, speak out and act on important issues happening in today’s world. It won a prestigious BETT Award in 2009 for its educational spin on social media, supplying schools and colleges with over 700 short films designed to engage students and encourage them to discuss the issues that are important to them.
Reaching young people directly in their social environments and giving them access to film equipment otherwise unavailable, the programme is entirely youth-led with only a steering group offering strategic advice and direction throughout. Following the TrueVan visits there will be a series of small scale events designed by young people to engage the community and decision makers with the groups formulating community action plans to tackle the issues brought up through the filming.
In addition, the young people working on the films will be able to gain accreditation towards other qualifications whilst filming and organising their events. TrueTube also tries to assist the volunteers wishing to continue their development in film making by directing them to other resources and courses.
The project will conclude with a large scale event at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London on Saturday 28 November 2009, where the films produced during the project will be displayed. Young people will also be debating, voting, volunteering and campaigning. The event will feature a number of guest speakers including film and documentary makers, leading politicians and campaigners as well as the young film makers themselves!
Not a stranger to high profile interviews, you can find films on Dame Kelly Holmes, Ken Loach and Ian Duncan Smith MP on www.truetube.co.uk.
TrueTube Offline’s project manager, Rachael Clohesey, says: “TrueTube is committed to providing young people with all the tools they need, whatever their social background, to make a difference in their community and the wider world. Doing this through film is ideal as they can practise valuable skills which can be used for later life, as well as portray their ideas and concerns both orally and visually.”
The project is viewed as a valuable resource for schools to encourage discussion and debate in the classroom about issues affecting young people. It is funded by V and the Rank Foundation. TrueTube is a project of CTVC Ltd, a registered charity (www.ctvc.co.uk).