Press releases
Thousands of teens to join one-off virtual debate
Release Date: 27/10/2009
BARNARDO’S has teamed up with Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle to launch a unique virtual campaign to get thousands of teenagers talking.
The children’s charity hopes to see the young people’s online exchanges and views about children in poverty, children and young people in trouble, sexually exploited children and other issues culminate in a film to be available online on Christmas Day.
Speech said: “This is a really great opportunity for kids to get involved in some of the most important debates going on at the moment.
“I am lucky enough to have a public voice through song writing, Barnardo’s is giving teenagers an opportunity they wouldn’t usually have to tell the world their point of view.”
The film of youngsters from across the UK will be streamed on Christmas Day in a groundbreaking partnership with MySpace. And it will see an unprecedented use of YouTube’s front page.
It will be directed by Virginia Quinn. Virginia has 10 years experience as a documentary director, specialising in high-end factual documentaries, docu-dramas and observational films for major broadcasters, including National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Channel 4 and Five.
Those taking part include Evan, 19, a transgendered male who is a passionate and eloquent LGBT rights campaigner from Greater Manchester and hopes to do outreach support for young, gay homeless people in the future.
And Leigh-Ann, 18, from Birmingham, who, after five years living rough and in foster care, is hoping to start her own club run by young people for young people.
Filming can be followed closely via the Teens’ Speech blog, which launches today.
Daily user generated video clips will be uploaded to a dedicated YouTube channel, championed and promoted by five young video bloggers; Nerimon, Blade376, Laurbubble, Jazza and Sarahxxlou, with a combined total of 132,848 subscribers and 3,226,229 channel views.
There will also be:
- 60 days of topical and provocative polls conducted on MySpace
- 60 days of blogging and Tweeting on teen related stories
- 60 days of debate and dialogue on Facebook, Twitter and The Teens' Speech blog.
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