Young voices take the lead in powerful short-film project
A bold new youth-led film initiative is giving young people across Nottinghamshire the tools and the platform to tell powerful, real-life stories about the consequences of serious violence.
Behind the Hype, delivered by Take 1 Studios and funded through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire’s Safer Nottinghamshire Together grants, is a creative project that works directly with young people to produce a series of impactful five-minute films.
Each piece is shaped by lived experience, offering an unfiltered look at issues such as serious youth violence, antisocial behaviour, violence against women and girls, exploitation, and encounters with the criminal justice system.
The project is designed to build confidence, resilience, and practical media skills, with participants supported through every stage of the creative process, from script development to production which ensures their voices are not only heard, but central to the storytelling.
By grounding each story in real experiences, it aims to spark meaningful conversations and encourage reflection among both peers and the wider community.
Speaking during Sceptre Week, a national campaign focused on tackling knife crime, Courtney Rose, Executive Director of Take 1, explained how Behind the Hype will contribute to raising awareness of the long-term impact of violence and the importance of prevention.
He said: “The project is all about working with young people to help better understand how they are communicating with each other and identifying ways we can tap into that.
“We want the message to be clear about the harm that serious violence can cause, and then put the responsibility on them to produce eye-catching visuals to demonstrate that.
“If you’re carrying a knife as a young person it’s important you look at things from a different perspective and be aware of what’s going on around you so you’re not in these situations where you feel you have to carry a knife to be safe.
“There are a lot of good projects in Nottingham, and for change to happen, we’ve got to be involved in that.”
Take 1 is a 30-year-old organisation based in Hyson Green, which specialises in working with young people in Nottingham, with almost 100 of them coming through its doors each week.
With access to professional facilities including a recording studio, dance studio, and ICT suite, participants are given a safe and inspiring environment to express themselves creatively.
Nottinghamshire’s Violence Reduction Partnership, established in 2019 and funded by the Home Office, brings together organisations like Take 1 across the city and county to address the root causes of serious violence through a public health approach.
The VRP team is a function of the Nottinghamshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and Chair of the Violence Reduction Partnership, Gary Godden, said: “Projects like Behind the Hype show the real value of giving young people a voice and the opportunity to share their lived experiences in a positive and constructive way.
“Education and early intervention are absolutely vital if we are to prevent young people from becoming involved in knife crime and serious violence.
“What makes this initiative so valuable is the strength of partnership working behind it.
“By bringing together organisations like Take 1, schools, community groups, Nottinghamshire Police, and our Violence Reduction Partnership, we can better educate young people about the devastating consequences of carrying knives while also providing the support, guidance, and opportunities they need to make safer choices here in Nottinghamshire.”
Courtney and the Take 1 team plan to assist in the development and publishing of the short-films over the course of the next 12 months.
Chief Inspector Kylie Davies, Nottinghamshire Police’s knife crime lead, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which has very impactful messages for young people around knife crime, serious violence and other issues.
“Anything created by young people for their peers, and including real-life stories, helps to present these issues in an unvarnished and powerful way.
“The force’s Specialist Schools and Early Intervention Officers work alongside our partners on the educational initiatives which we know are crucial in helping young people make the correct choices.”