3/2/2010 - Give Us a Break - Film Premiere

A short film featuring disabled children and young people from Cumbria which shows the sorts of leisure activities they enjoy has its premiere at a prestigious event at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick on Saturday 6th February.

The DVD ‘Give Us a Break,’ involved students from Mayfield School at Whitehaven assisted by Cumbria based Prism Arts and the Haltwhistle Film Project.

The production, which took several months to complete, gave the children and young people themselves the chance to show what they like to do in their spare time.

It’s part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, of which the transformation of short breaks is a key element.

Cumbria has secured £2.7 million funding to roll out the programme around the county.

Cumbria County Council and the NHS are committed to delivering the best possible services to young people and their carers.

There have already been extensive consultations about the sort of short breaks young people and their carers would like and now the young people themselves have added their voice.

Mayfield School pupil Tom Wren, said:

"It was good. I went into the pool with an underwater camera." 

Fellow pupil Michael Sessford, added:

"The shadow puppets were good and I am looking forward to doing the live performance." 

Lynne Brownrigg, Mayfield School headteacher, said: 

"I believe that Haltwhistle Film Project and Prism Arts working on behalf of Cumbria's Children's Services have acheived the objectives in giving our young people the opportunity to share what they want from short breaks and to present images of young people with a range of disabilities being invovled in a range of short break opportunties.

The work that has been undertaken by the young people at Mayfield School has offered fantastic opportunities based on creative arts enabling young people to explore their creativitiy, develop self belief, expression in developing skills.

This has been a very worthwhile project." 

Moira Swann, corporate director, children’s services, Cumbria County Council, said:

"Everyone seems to have had a lot of fun and there are some brilliant ideas about what they’d like short breaks to offer. Many thanks to those who put in so much hard work. We are all very proud of ‘Give Us a Break.’

Highlights at the premiere on Saturday include the DVD showing itself, a special live performance and opening and closing addresses from councillor Anne Burns, cabinet member for responsible for children's social care and Mayfield headteacher Lynne Brownrigg.

ENDS

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