The Rise Awards 2011 for excellence in improving the quality of life and well-being of mental health service users receiving support in the community

A. About the Awards

The Rise Awards are presented by Lemos&Crane who are sponsoring a prize of £1,500. Entries are invited from organisations working with mental health service users. In particular those organisations that deliver services in the community; residential care; supported housing; and to people at home.

Entries should be based on work in generating positive outcomes in one or more of the following three areas:

·  Developing positive personal identity: Examples might include work to enhance personal independence and control; service user involvement, choice and empowerment.

·  Developing and sustaining relationships. Examples might include work to enhance relationships with family and friends, loving relationships, relationships with pets and connections to communities and other networks or associations.

·  Promoting positive life satisfaction. Examples might include work to enhance contentment about finances, accommodation, employment, physical health and use of leisure time.

B. Timetable

·  Deadline for entries – 5pm Friday December 17, 2010

·  Shortlist announced – January 14, 2011

·  Winners announced – January 28, 2011.

C. Rules and procedures

1.  Entries must be completed using this entry form and submitted electronically here: http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/index.php?id=211749

2.  Receipt of all entries submitted online will be automatically acknowledged.

3.  Entrants may be asked to provide further information.

4.  The judges' decision is final. Awards will be made at the judges' discretion and no correspondence will be entered into concerning any decision. Not all the awards advertised may be awarded if the judges consider the criteria have not been met. Additional commendations may be made at the judges' discretion.

5.  The content of any entry may be used for informing other practitioners and also for publicity purposes unless the entrant withholds their consent to this in writing.

6.  Entrants are deemed to have accepted these rules and procedures and to have agreed to be bound by them when entering this competition.


D. Your Entry

Please do not exceed 1500 words in total.

1.  Your contact details

Full name / Victoria Betton
Organisation / Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust
in partnership with:
Arts and Minds network
Leeds International Film Festival
Leeds School of Graphic Art and Design
Northern School of Film
Telephone number / 07960 727030
Email address /
Address / Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust
Trust HQ
2150 Century Way
Thorpe Park
Leeds
Postcode / LS15 8ZB
Website / http://www.leedspft.nhs.uk

2.  Name of project you are entering for the Rise Awards

Film to Change

3.  Describe your project in one sentence

A partnership initiative to build skills, experience and positive identity of service users, whilst tackling the stigma associated with mental distress, through film.

4.  Specify the setting(s) where your project is delivered (eg day centre, residential, drop-in, supported housing, etc)?

The project was delivered in a range of settings, including filming in different locations across the city. The main base was Artlink (community arts project) and Studio 12 (film editing facility).

5.  What are the project’s objectives?

The purpose of Film to Change was to improve positive identity and life satisfaction of mental health service users through an innovative project. Thirty-two service users were trained, supported and mentored to produce short films on the subject of mental distress and stigma.
In addition, twenty students participated in mental health awareness training and then produced short films and posters challenging stigma experienced by young people with mental health problems.
Public awareness was raised through a screening of the films and visual art exhibition at a sell-out Leeds International Film Festival event, followed by a panel debate including mental health experts, a film director and producer.
The project aimed to achieve a wealth of improvements/outcomes through the use of an extraordinary set of partnerships:
·  wellbeing/inclusion/satisfaction outcomes for participants
·  participants’ skills and experience
·  realistic/positive representation of mental distress in film
·  students’ understanding of mental distress
·  public understanding of mental distress
·  products/materials for our challenging stigma campaign.
All partners learnt about mental distress, the role of film in representing mental health and how to work together to bring about understanding and social change. Partners pooled their specialist knowledge to bring about change and are all now embedding it into their core programmes.

6.  What are the project’s activities?

The project’s activities took place over a six month period:
·  Film to Change launch event and short film screening
·  Applications to participate & interviews
·  Mental health awareness session for students
·  Workshops for participants – storyboarding, film equipment, editing, directing, production
·  Filming and editing
·  Film to Change screening and panel debate (16th November)
·  Feedback session to students & final edit of materials
·  Film to Change screening and debate (additional session planned for January)

7.  What has been the impact of the project (please include any feedback or evaluation)?

Film to Change participants learned new skills and developed experience of all aspects of film direction and production, as well as softer outcomes associated with participating in a group.
Linda Boyles (Arts and Minds) “it was an incredibly empowering experience as people took control and had to work out a very complicated process with lots of negotiation and compromise. I could see people’s confidence growing throughout the project”
Participant “I found putting my experiences into the film very therapeutic”.
Participant: “I think making a film from personal experience makes a big difference. I was motivated by a desire to be understood, to show people that this could per the person living next door to you”.
Students learnt about mental distress and how film and graphic design tools can be used to challenge stigma. They had the experience of their films being shown in a public environment and critiqued by a panel including film and mental health experts.
Dr Liz Stirling: "The opportunity to create work with Arts and Minds proved a beneficial and progressive experience for the students as they gained knowledge and understanding of working with an external partner. The challenging and provocative nature of mental health demanded students to fully commit to the project and also broaden their personal and social perceptions of the issues, and how a creative approach can form an accessible bridge to such a difficult subject."
The Film Festival screening sold out and 130 members of the public were exposed to a range of short films giving a realistic portrayal of mental health distress. As a result, audience members will be more equipped to recognise and challenge negative stereotypes in TV and film in the future. The evaluation was very positive with respondents saying they are more aware of mental health issues.
Evaluation form “Brilliant and honest … a really breathtaking showcase. Thankyou”.
Ken Loach endorsed the initiative and said: “There is still a stigma attached to those who have mental health problems. This film project in Leeds is a good response. It challenges familiar clichés and negative stereotypes”

8. What are your plans for developing the project further?

In 2011 our Film to Change initiative will be developed as part of a larger arts and mental health festival including Light Night, the Film Festival and other public events. The festival will engage service users in cultural activities in Leeds and bring issues of stigma to a large public audience.
Film to Change participants are continuing a peer-led group that is based at Inkwell community centre with support from Arts and Minds. We are fundraising for multi-media equipment to enable them to continue to make films.
We are working with the Northern School of Film, commissioning students to produce a series of films on the subject of mental health and stigma, with service users as mentors/consultants.
We will work with the School of Graphic Art and Design to continue the initiative with a regular mental health and stigma module. Students are planning to a creative student event to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Due to popular demand, the films are going to be shown again in the new year and made available for purchase on a DVD. Materials will be used on our website.


E. Submitting your entry

Please return this entry form by 5pm, Friday 17 December 2010 by uploading it on this page: http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/index.php?id=211749

On this page you can also add documents, photos, videos or other media that are relevant to your entry.

If you have problems sending us your entry then please email for help.

Thank you for entry.

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