Erdington students have married their creative talents with their passion for community to create a short film which promotes the benefits of volunteering.

To encourage other young people to develop their vocational skills and boost their employability, the team of four North Birmingham Academy sixth-formers have produced a TikTok video.

The project was put together to support the Community Voice (CV) initiative being delivered by Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA).

Kian Haden, Kimmi Lane, Divya Kaur and Kaylin McClelland worked closely with Steve Sharma, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator at WLCA, to script, film and edit the 30-second clip.

“Community Voice is a forum where residents come together to discuss issues in the local area and work together to implement solutions to them,” said Steve.

“The forum currently has more than 50 members who meet regularly to discuss concerns around housing, health, employment, the environment, arts, education, volunteering and youth.

Opportunities to grasp

“During previous CV workshops, members had commented on how young people in North Birmingham were finding it difficult to access opportunities to volunteer or do work experience. From these discussions, the idea for a TikTok video was born.

“We felt the best people to reach young people with messaging which highlights how volunteering can benefit them, was other young people.

“From day one, Kian, Kimmi, Divya and Kaylin have been staunch supporters of Community Voice.

“With some of their classmates, they had delivered a presentation on some of the issues facing young people in Erdington and volunteering came up as a key issue.”

The video is now available to watch on Witton Lodge’s TikTok and YouTube channels.

While reflecting on their efforts in making the video, the students also explained why they joined Community Voice – and why others should do the same.

“I wanted to join the forum because I’ve always been passionate about giving a voice to young people,” said Kaylin. “Young people don’t always get the chance to speak up on issues where they live.”

Getting people engaged

She added: “For the video, I took on the role of writing the script. I focussed on highlighting the positive reasons for volunteering in our community. I wanted to ensure our video was engaging to young people, to inspire them to get involved.”

Kian Haden commented: “I joined Community Voice because I wanted to make a difference within the local area. I wanted to give a voice to young people who want to improve life in their community. Joining the forum can help young people develop new skills which they can use throughout their lives.”

Kian’s sentiments were echoed by classmate Kimmi Lane, who directed the video.

She said: “Young people deserve a voice and opportunities to make decisions for their community.

“I think it’ incredibly important for young people to be involved in local issues. Their input can help inform other generations.

“Doing the video was fun. To get together as a group and create content which promotes positive change was a great experience.”

Meanwhile, Divya Kaur was keen to make sure the video was memorable.

“My experience with filming the video was to ensure there was an element of comedy to it,” she said.

Raising awareness

“Working with everyone was an experience and helped us all to further develop our personal skills. I wanted to join Community Voice as I want to help make a change within society. I want to help young people get more opportunities to make a difference.

“Community Voice will also help older adults understand the issues young people face. Examples of this include education, mental health and community safety.”

Rhiannon Brown is Head of Sixth Form at North Birmingham Academy.

She has been working closely with Steve and the students to push the Community Voice opportunity to young people and to create the volunteering video.

“Partnering with organisations such as Witton Lodge is vital because it connects our students with real-world opportunities and community initiatives,” she said.

Social responsibility 

“These partnerships help students develop employability skills and gain insight into local issues. They also help students to understand the value of contributing to their community. It also strengthens our commitment to social responsibility, ensuring that education goes beyond the classroom and prepares young people to make a positive impact in society.

“I am incredibly proud of what our students have achieved. The video showcases not only their creative and technical skills but also their ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. It also reflects their confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm for making a difference.

“Seeing them take ownership of a project that benefits the wider community is inspiring and demonstrates the high standards and values we promote at NBA Sixth Form.”

If you would like to get involved with Community Voice please call Steve Sharma on 0121 382 1930 or email: Steve.sharma@wittonlodge.org.uk

You can watch the video below: