And now for something completely different…well almost.

Every now and again a production job comes along for a website video that is just a little out of the norm. No gorgeous dancers and singers, no warehouse with high stackers and fork lifts flying around, no wizzy robotic machines with wonderful flashing lights producing a trillion widgets an hour but nevertheless a job that would be equally satisfying.

I have over the years produced video films on topics such as Down’s Syndrome and Dementia so when I went to a meeting with colleague Robin Bailey from Capricorn Media, to meet with the directors of Brentwood Community Print, who we know from business networking, to discuss the production of a short video explaining the work they do, I knew this was going to be one for the “worthwhile” folder.

Brentwood Community Print is situated in Warley, Brentwood within the shadow of the Ford European HQ. From the outside they look like another print shop but the reality is they are far from being “another” print shop.

They exist to help people who are in recovery from mental illness. Their staff are all on a journey, each with unique stories. All the profit from sales is re-invested into assisting people in their recovery, by providing a working environment, with structured work and training to help them re-gain confidence and re-integrate back into the community.

If you have a printing requirement and are within travelling distance of Brentwood do give them a try. They are a talented team of people and are worth a visit.

For the video, Robin devised the concept and storyboard, video direction on the filming day was very much a shared effort, whilst I looked after the filming and subsequent editing, with Robin sitting in to add his direction. We know how pleased the team at BCP are with the result and despite the inevitable disruption, they even enjoyed  the day we were there filming.
The project and supporting literature is simply entitled, TED.

2017 Update

The progression of BCP since the time of my original blog has manifested itself in many ways. As well as finding recognition from various agencies, BCP now provide outreach courses focused on ‘Confidence and Empowerment’ and ‘Telephone and Customer Service Skills’ training – available to all members of the public. They’re also working with Brentwood Job Centre; offering those who suffer with anxiety and/or depression some work experience as a means to gently introduce them back into a working/business environment.
Their self-developed presentations focusing on Good Mental Health in the Workplace have been delivered to numerous businesses (Brentwood Borough Council among these) and have proved beneficial to those in receipt, as stated via feedback forms.
In February 2017 they delivered a one-day workshop titled Promoting Positive Mental Health in the Workplace to thirty employers at the University of Essex. This project was made possible through their earlier involvement with Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), offering themselves as a Case Study in the 2016 Management of Mental Health at Work national report. BCP plan to build on the success of this workshop by replicating the event in other areas of the Essex County throughout 2017.

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