Residents from Links’ Supported Housing project in Hexham have been working alongside the Haltwhistle Film Project to produce, direct and feature in a short film. The film draws upon personal experiences in order to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness and highlight the local services that Links provides for young people in Tynedale.

The film focuses on some of the main reasons why young people become homeless and highlights a number of the residents’ personal stories. The DVD has been made to coincide with Links’ homelessness education project, which is currently being rolled out across schools in Tynedale. The film will feature as part of Links’ educational sessions and is aimed at raising awareness about why people become homelessness and identifying what young people should do if they are experiencing problems at home. By Easter this year, every year eleven pupil in Tynedale will have been given the opportunity to watch the film and discuss the issues that it addresses.

One of the residents involved in directing the film said:

‘We did not know it would take so long to shoot each individual scene and we found it really hard to explain the way in which we saw things in our heads so that it would look the same on screen. The whole experience was really enjoyable though and shooting the drama part was really exciting, especially when we had to hold the camera and run backwards; we kept tripping over things and running into walls!’

Another said that they ‘would definitely recommend other people have a go at film making. It gives you new skills and helps you to understand how films are made. Plus, it’s a great way of getting your point across.’

Ultimately, Links’ residents said that they hoped the film would help other young people. ‘It will let them know that if they are having problems at home there are people who they can turn to who will understand and try and help them. Hopefully, it will stop situations becoming worse and help to prevent young people from becoming homeless.’

If you are aged 16-30 and need advice on housing, training, jobs, benefits or just need to talk to someone then contact Links, Haugh Lane, Hexham, NE46 3PT. Tel: 01434 607850.

Below is a letter sent by a resident of Links Foyer, Hexham, to newspapers to complain about the negative stereotyping of young people in the media:

"After reading yet more articles in the papers today about young people and anti-social behaviour, I thought I would retaliate with my view as a 17yr old. I really hope someday soon the newspapers and the government will stop picking on us and let us get on with our lives. Maybe people, especially people like Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly, should start taking advice from people who do want to support the children and young people in Britain.

Do you really thik it is fair that after everything that has happended in Britain over the past few years, us young people are still the target in the government campaigns? The governemnt is going crazy over recism and being politically correct, but there seems to be an exception when it comes to us. You're not allowed to call people names that are found offensive, but what about calling us yobs, hooligans, louts etc. These names are equally offensive, and are just a stereotype. What happened to our rights?

Yours, Maddie Errington.