Social Impact

DEEP ENGAGEMENT

Social impact is central to Chocolate Films ethos. Each year we outreach to an average of 2000 people. Our work trains participants in filmmaking and new media skills but also strives to empower our participants through creative expression. Our filmmaking workshops have a large impact on everyone who participates and greatly improve lifelong teamwork experience, confidence building, self-esteem and creativity.

We outreach to a broad range of young people including those from low income and BAME backgrounds as well as specialist groups such as NEET young people, young offenders, refugee groups, young carers, groups with mental health issues, young people with learning disabilities and young people with experiences of homelessness. From Aug 2014 – 2015 92% of our workshops were provided for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Special focus groups outreached to

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Wider Impact

Last year we engaged an estimated total of 57,293 people through our learning projects as well as screenings, exhibitions and online distribution of workshop films. The outputs created on our learning projects have been screened and exhibited widely, engaging a further 4,685 people in museums, galleries and cinemas and 50,823 people on various online platforms.

Production of 1000 Londoners

In April 2014 we launched our flagship documentary series 1000 Londoners. In the first 6 months of the project we engaged approximately 200 people in filmmaking activities related to 1000 Londoners. Through the project we have engaged with and increased knowledge and understanding of minority groups in London such as Palestinian, Polish, Jewish, Caribbean, African, Spanish, North African communities in London as well as building awareness of homeless, Autism, LGBT, ADHD and Dyslexia.

We are committed to exploring niche interest groups which has lead us to Jennifer who enjoys Cosplay, a 17 year old karate black belt, Elle, and Xandria a deaf student and online gamer. We have documented the disappearing history of London and the many communities striving to preserve it. We have provided more than 20 young people with volunteering opportunities through our Young Ambassadors talent development programme.

If you need further information contact us via email at: workshops@chocolatefilms.com

TESTIMONIALS

Chocolate Box Screening

Participant Feedback

Islington Youth Offending Team

Walcot Testimonials – Teachers

Being involved in SElect18films/Chocolate Films has helped my recovery beyond any words I can summon, indeed, I struggled so much with social phobia that I doubt I’d been able to express myself before my involvement with Chocolate Films. The filmmaking process has helped me overcome these issues with social phobia and awkwardness and to realise that one of my strengths is actually in social settings with an ability to communicate. A lot of this happened in film planning sessions and later during filming and editing. The sort of change I experienced cannot happen in the normal therapeutic setting I’m used to, it needed the challenging, but safe reallife scenarios of being involved in filmmaking. Social phobias and anxiety is a very common issue for those recovering from substance use dependence and is often the cause of relapse.

Participant SElect18 Films

Thanks for the huge part you played running the I Am Creative programme at The Complete Works during this term. Thanks to Ross and Harriet from Chocolate Films who did a great job of facilitating the sessions. It was so great to have so many creative minds enthusiastically working together to come up with the best possible pitch to B&Q. As the judges said at the final, the work you created was exceptional! Well done again!

Ideas Foundation Assistant Creative Programme Leader
Zosia Mrozek-Folkierska

1000 LONDONERS
1000 STORIES
1 CITY

Discover 1000 Londoners: Chocolate Films’ award-winning documentary series, profiling the lives of one thousand people in the world’s greatest city. Many of the films are created by participants on Chocolate Films workshops.
www.1000londoners.com

“More proof that everyone is extraordinary”