Collaborative film-making during lockdown
While life under lockdown continues to prevent us from meeting, inspiring stories of groups responding in creative ways across the network are springing up. From organising local food parcel deliveries, to using Zoom to host reading groups and birthday parties, to English/Conversation WhatsApp groups the movement is connecting in new ways to support those seeking sanctuary.
This time is also a perfect opportunity for us all to learn how to communicate our network principles more effectively online. These include offering a positive vision of a culture of welcome and hospitality to all as well as creating opportunities for relationships of friendship and solidarity between local people and those seeking sanctuary, to name just two (see here for the full list).
Towards this, we have set up a collaborative film-making initiative called #SanctuaryStoriesOnline to share our stories and communicate our network principles with the wider movement and beyond.
How it works?
1) We will set a theme and then invite you to document your story through recording yourselves at home. You may want to team up with someone from your local City of Sanctuary group.
2) We’ll offer some practical tips on how to use video to communicate your story
3) You send in your video along with any photographs that you feel help capture your story
4) We’ll edit your footage together with other stories into a 3 – 5 minute film and share it back for your approval
5) We’ll post it on our online platforms to inspire others during the crisis
Who can get involved?
Anyone can get involved no matter the quality of your phone or laptop. If you’re unable to use your phone or laptop camera, there are other ways we can help you share your story, whether through telephone interviews, email exchanges or you sending us photos via email.
Potential themes
- We have a number of suggestions below, but we welcome any other themes for
future films! - How is your City of Sanctuary group coping with Covid-19? How are you now meeting?
- What has your town/city done to offer a positive welcome to sanctuary seekers?
- What relationships of friendship and solidarity have come about as a result of your City of Sanctuary group?
- How do you celebrate and promote the contribution of people seeking
sanctuary in your local area? - How is Covid-19 affecting those in your group who are seeking sanctuary? (linking to wider campaigning themes: Lift the ban, increased asylum support for those awaiting a decision on the right to remain, Wi-Fi/Mobile data access)
- How are people seeking sanctuary coping and what tips can be shared with the wider public (i.e. people seeking sanctuary may be able to share their experiences of coping during a crisis and may be able to offer help on how to manage isolation and anxiety etc.)
Getting involved
Please register by clicking on the following link, indicating your interest via question 8. Sam Slatcher will then get in touch to offer you some practical tips and discuss how you might share your story.
If you would like to get involved with a theme or have any other ideas you would like to share, please message Sam here.
Please also get in touch if you have any suggestions or would like to get involved with the editing and producing of videos.
