Everyone Has A Story was created by a group of young people supported by the Good Shepherd Centre to provide an honest reflection of the consequences, realities and impacts of violence in Scotland.
This project was funded by the Binks Hub and was developed in partnership with Braw Talent, Police Scotland's Youth Engagement team and Scottish Violence Reduction Unit.
Working with creative partners at Braw Talent and Police Scotland’s Youth Engagement team over several months a group of young people supported by the Good Shepherd Centre explored whether arts-informed approaches could support young people to think and communicate differently about violence and the conditions needed to prevent it.
Whilst insightful, understanding young people’s views was not the only key aspect of the project, but to explore boarder questions:
Can creative methods provide different ways for young people to share and tell their stories?
Do creative outputs open up different conversations among practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders?
The young people involved in the project reviewed previous violence prevention materials – including campaigns, videos and posters – and also examined how violence involving young people is portrayed in the media. They felt there was an absence of resources that put those with lived experience at the centre and wanted to provide an honest reflection of the consequences, realities and impacts of violence through making two films under the title ‘Everyone Has A Story’.
'Part 1', aimed at adults, offers insight into what young people are facing through spoken word with accompanying posters they designed using screen-printing techniques and Photoshop.
'Part 2' is intended for children and young people to help them understand the impact violence could have on their future. The production of these films was further supported by Youth Justice Voices who helped with filming and acting to bring experiences to life.
Throughout, important questions have been raised about what it means to create spaces where young people can contribute in ways that feel meaningful and authentic to them.