‘Digital Me’ – An animated video from Gateshead Youth Justice Service
Summary:
Gateshead Youth Justice Service and Digital Voice for Communities, a non-profit organisation which works with people of all ages and abilities to deliver digital inclusion projects, has produced animated video. Several children and young adults co-produced the video, which captures their experiences of the youth justice system.
Description:
The film was scripted, animated and co-produced with children, and used animation to anonymise them, while still ensuring their voices and experiences were heard. The video allowed them to explore their feelings and reflect on their experiences of the youth justice service and what helped them.
Key themes in the video include peer pressure, substance misuse and education. Children explore, in their own words, how building trusting relationships with their case managers was important to them, and how this enabled them to move forward and change their behaviour. There is a focus on pro-social identity and the Voice of the Child.
Gateshead Youth Justice Service co-produced this video to help other children avoid offending. Using local children to voice the script was important as there are few resources available with local accents, and it was felt other children watching the video would identify with it.
Outcomes:
The video has been shared across Gateshead Children’s Social Care, and is used as a training tool and resource for children likely to become involved with the youth justice system. It has also been shared externally with partners and other services so other children, victims and the general public can see the positive impact Gateshead Youth Justice Service has on children.
In 2023 the project won the Digital Transformation in Social Work category at the Social Worker of the Year Awards.
Contact:
| Name | Emma Blackwell |
| EmmaBlackwell@Gateshead.Gov.Uk |