A promotional film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for Born in Bradford (BiB) an internationally recognized research programme which been tracing young people’s health and wellbeing for over fifteen years. The film focuses on a new research programme entitled Age of Wonder which is a seven-year project capturing the journey through adolescence and adulthood for 70,000 teenagers in Bradford. The film speaks to pupils from Calton Balling secondary school who are taking part in the...

A promotional film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for Born in Bradford (BiB) an internationally recognized research programme which been tracing young people’s health and wellbeing for over fifteen years. The film focuses on a new research programme entitled Age of Wonder which is a seven-year project capturing the journey through adolescence and adulthood for 70,000 teenagers in Bradford. The film speaks to pupils from Calton Balling secondary school who are taking part in the project about why it is important to them as well as providing details what will be learned from the data gathered. As two South Asian boys walk into the sports hall at Calton Balling secondary school in Bradford, one is asked outside in the corridor what life is like as a teenager. As young children play outside details are provided on Born in Bradford (BiB), a survey that has been tracing young people’s health and wellbeing for over fifteen years, gathering information on how lifestyle, genes and the environment effect and how it affects them. Back in the school sports hall teenagers uses laptop computers to complete a survey with details being provided in voiceover about a new project that is part of BiB called Age of Wonder which is the largest study of teenagers in the world that will be collecting data from 30,000 adolescents from across Bradford over the next seven years following them into early adulthood. As a group of pupils in a classroom are weighed, measured and blood samples taken, details are given as to why this is being done. Over a montage of work being done and analysed, details are also provided with regards how views and experiences are also being collected through surveys, discussions and creative methods so that young people’s voices can he heard and that schools, services and policy makers understand what they need to do in order to help improve these young people life chances. Another group female students walks into the sports hall, one of them explains they are at Calton Balling secondary school to conduct a survey into subjects of importance to teenagers today. As details are provided on the subjects that are being looked into including the art and culture, socioeconomics, mental health and digital and social media a young man supervises those coming into the hall. One of the students taking part explains why it is important. Sitting outside on a bench a young man opens up a laptop explaining how it will be used to conduct the next generation of motor and cognitive assessments via a series of task which he shows on the screen. He goes onto provide details on why they are important and how they can use the data can be used. Back in the school hall the laptops are handed out. Details are then discussed on the importance of keeping information safe and private and what those working for Age of Wonder will be doing to protect it all and who will be able to see it. The narrator talks about a ‘secret code’ which is given to each individual which will keep the data anonymous. The film moves on to focus on how the blood samples seen being collected earlier are analysed. The samples are collected and transported to a laboratory in Bradford after which some are sent onto the Sanger Institute in Cambridge. Over a montage of them at work scientists in laboratory using cutting edge equipment to test the samples with details being provided on what is being learned. Returning to the narrator she provides three ‘science facts for science lovers’ based on the data collected. Over related clips she explains that breathing in polluted air whist a baby is growing in their mother can lead to a lower birth rate which can cause problems later on, why having parks and gardens around them can be good for you and finding out earlier that a child has Autism will lead to them having a better life. One of South Asian boys featured at the start of the film explains he has ADHD and that better education and understanding of the condition is needed. The film ends on the narrator asking the viewer to ‘join the movement’ and help shape a healthier and happier world through BIB Age of Wonder after which the teenagers conducting the survey in the sports hall pack up and leave. End title: BIB Age of Wonder