A film produced for the Parents4Parents Partnership about a creative writing project for single parents and families, both civilian and military, living in and around Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. The film speaks with many of the mainly women taking part in the project about why it is important to them, what they have learn and what they have gained out the experience. Throughout the film several participants read out their works to the group. In a library a group of predominantly...

A film produced for the Parents4Parents Partnership about a creative writing project for single parents and families, both civilian and military, living in and around Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. The film speaks with many of the mainly women taking part in the project about why it is important to them, what they have learn and what they have gained out the experience. Throughout the film several participants read out their works to the group. In a library a group of predominantly women sit or stand around chatting over teas and coffees. The group make their way into another part of the library and take their seats. Titles: Parents4Parents-NorthYorks. Peer support for the wellbeing of parents Armed Forces Covenant Take Our Words For It! A women identified as Caron sits and reads a poem she has written to the audience in the library. Inside the Catterick Garrison Community Centre a group of young women sit around talking. The voices of several women in the group provide details on Parents4Parents and the kind of support the organisation provides to single parents or families living at or around Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. Exterior of the Catterick Garrison Community Centre where inside the group sit around table talking and making notes. Again, some of the women in the group describe the ‘Take Our Works’ project, funded by the Armed Forces Community Covenant, as an opportunity for parents to put into words their thoughts and feelings and enable them to reflect on different ways and share it with others. An artist works with the women in the community centre to explore creative writing. With her text resting on an ironing board, a young woman reads a poem she had written to the group sitting or standing around. In smaller groups the women and one male former solider talk about how this creative writing workshop help them deal with their issues, they also discuss their writing process. As they talk participants sitting around tables writing or discussing as a group. Several of them read their works to the gather. Members of the group talk about their favourite parts of the classes; some liked when the wrote letters to their teenage selves, others writing about their past as well as free writing. Two women read their works to the group. Sitting around the table the group work with the artist on their pieces, they each talk about the bonding experience they have had and how much they trust and support each other through shared experiences. A woman reads a poem to the group. A woman explains how this project as brough both civilian and military lives together. Several members of the group explain how they don’t notice the differences as they are all parents. There are no barriers, they are the same. Viv Schwartzberg, P4P Project Director speaks about the decision to focus on both civilian and military families, recruiting volunteers and parents from both communities. Another poem is read to the group by a woman. Some of the group talk about how their work often makes them feel emotional, the words can sometimes be raw. Others talk about how the course has been therapeutic giving them more confidence. One member of the group reads out a poem written by someone else in the group. Several women talk about what they gain from being on the course in areas such as confidence and being seen as more than just a wife and mother. One woman talks about how the course has helped her better communication with others and that it has been better for her than years of therapy. The film ends back the library with Caron reads another poem to the seated audience. The poem ends and the audience applauds. Titles: Acknowledgements to everyone who appears in the film The Take Our Words For It Writing Team members Caron Boudrioua, David Davis, Rachel Hall, Carol-ann Hodgson, Kathryn Houghton, Stephanie McKiddie, Joelle Mitchell, Kathy Rose, Sheree O’Rourke, Lisa Webb, Ashley Wilkins Sky Hawkins from Dickie Bird Writing Team Co-ordinator and Writing Workshop Facilitators Parents4Parents-North Yorks Trustees, service users volunteers and workers who supported the project Rebecca Briggs, Samantha Farrer, Chloe Jones, Hannah Jones, Debbie Marwood, Kristie O’Rourke, Sam Sankey, Viv Schwartzberg, Nicole Webster All the agencies from the Parents4Parents Partnership group that have supported Take Our Word For IT! End credit: All rights reserved © faze3films 2018