Ridley Scott creative group launches campaign to support End Youth Homelessness

Director Tom Dream discuss the importance of creativity in campaigning for good

(Centrepoint)

The pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, particularly young people. Stripped of opportunity and security, thousands of vulnerable young people are increasingly reliant on the vital services provided by charity networks like End Youth Homelessness (EYH).  

Research from EYH partner charity Centrepoint shows that more than three quarters of council respondents (78 per cent) across England have seen an increase in homelessness in their area since the start of the pandemic. 

More than four in ten (42 per cent) have seen a significant increase. And almost three quarters (74 per cent) of councils foresee an increase in levels of homelessness due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Calls to Centrepoint’s helpline have also increased by almost 50 per cent since the beginning of lockdown.  

At Black Dog Films (part of the Ridley Scott Creative Group of production companies) we’ve been working with EYH for a few years; I know our Producer Holly has helped with several campaigns. Last year we helped establish a wider production industry collaboration to launch an EYH exhibit at the Design Museum which then toured the UK.

With support from Black Dog we wanted to make a film that turned the staggering figures around the homelessness crisis in the UK into something which has emotional impact. EYH provided us with first-hand accounts of how Covid-19 is impacting the circumstances of the 110,000 young people who are currently facing homelessness in the UK, and how it’s becoming even more difficult to access support with new social distancing measures, and services being moved online.

The concept development and research of the project took me deep into a world of data driven animation that has totally changed my approach to documentary filmmaking. With our film we want people to connect with both the reality of this crisis through listening to the real-life testimonies, and the importance of supporting organisations like End Youth Homelessness.

I hope to continue working with EYH to release the recorded testimonies in full for people to explore the network of charities further, and we're looking at how we can create interactive data visualisations to fully illustrate the devastating impact this pandemic is having on young people across the country. To raise money for EYH we’re also releasing a run of t-shirts and tote bags which you can find here.  

All filmmakers want to tell stories. At Black Dog we’re going to help by giving EYH a voice so they can continue to tell theirs.  

Tom Dream is a Film Director working with Black Dog Films to raise vital awareness for End Youth Homelessness, a national movement of youth homelessness charities based across the UK. Find out more and support them here