A group of young carers took part in a film making project developed by a charity to give them much needed ‘me time’.

The project was run by the charity Create with the help of a grant from the Queen’s Trust. The charity extended inspired:arts, a programme for young carers, which reached out to young people in Newham for the first time and involved a group of 14. They took part in a filmmaking project, learning about every aspect of the creative process.

A spokeswoman for the charity said the project was developed to offer much needed ‘me time’ to young people who can spend more than 50 hours a week – more than the average adult working week – caring for another person.

Nicky Goulder, co-founder and chief executive of Create, said: “I am thrilled that we have been able to bring inspired:arts to young carers in Newham for the first time. The creative arts are a great leveller and have an incredible capacity to break down barriers and bring people together. inspired:arts has helped young carers to develop their social skills, grow in self-confidence, and take a vital break from their caring responsibilities. It is our huge honour to give them this experience.”

During the project, which was delivered at Forest Gate Learning Zone, in Woodford Road, Forest Gate, the group of 14 worked with Create’s professional filmmaker to learn about the different functionalities of the camera, before splitting into groups to create their own inspired film. From storyboarding to acting and editing, the young carers had a chance to explore every aspect of making a film, including publishing it via different media including YouTube and other social media platforms.