‘A lived experience of homelessness’ is a contender in the Charity Film Awards
We are pleased to announce A lived experience of homelessness has been nominated for a Charity Film Award.
The film up for an award is a personal story from Matt, who discusses his journey into rough sleeping and substance use. His perspective provides a powerful insight into how unexpected life events can create a pathway into homelessness which then proves difficult to move beyond.
“I split up with my girlfriend. I was self-employed. I was unwell and I was being stubborn and not asking for help and just trying to keep being self-employed. I was in and out of hospital with nowhere to go and being stuck in one town and reliant on busking to fund my basic needs,” Matt says in the film.
Matt details how his health deteriorated during the years he spent rough sleeping, and how substance use during this time further compromised his wellbeing.
“I couldn’t look after myself anymore, I just ground to a halt,” he said.
The Charity Film Awards were created to celebrate the success of film in fundraising, to increase exposure of charity films and to encourage donations for good causes.
The charities that enter the Charity Film Awards have created videos that 'have the power to move, to warm hearts, to inspire, to engage… to change the world; to do good'. The awards seek to demonstrate that in the modern world, film-making is the most powerful piece of equipment in the charity communication tool box.
During the first stage, the public votes will determine a short list of entries for each category. A panel of expert judges will then vote independently to choose winners from the short list, with the winners announced at a red carpet award ceremony in London.
Louise Bate, Healthwatch Dorset Manager, said: “We’re thrilled we could help support these films, which provide such a valuable insight into people’s real lives and help to inform and educate those who are training in the health and social care sector.”
