Bank of Ireland UK has joined Belfast-based film charity, Cinemagic, to inspire and educate young people about financial wellbeing through the lens of the screen industries.
40 teenagers, aged 15-18, from Ashfield Girls’ High School and St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast, came together for an innovative, educational outreach morning with award-winning talent from the world of Film and Television. Students who attended the event got insights from Adam Wilkinson, Film & TV Sustainability Consultant (NBC Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix); Actress and Puppeteer, Beccy Henderson (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Derry Girls); and Colin Williams (Creative Director, Sixteen South), with the event expertly hosted by presenter, Lynette Fay.
The partnership between Cinemagic and Bank of Ireland UK developed through a shared passion to educate, motivate and inspire young people, and to creatively demonstrate the importance of good financial wellbeing for young people as they begin to think about employment and further education.
The students gained practical advice, utilising the screen industries in a Sustainability and Location Management workshop and careers panel Q&A to highlight issues such as budgeting, problem solving, resilience and the significance of financial wellbeing on an individual’s personal and career development, no matter what career path they choose.
Joan Burney Keatings, MBE, Cinemagic Chief Executive commented “Cinemagic’s ethos is to inspire young people from all backgrounds through creative film opportunities, and collaborating with Bank of Ireland UK, on this innovative community outreach programme is truly inspiring, allowing local teenagers to find out about career opportunities in the screen industries whilst feeling empowered about their own financial wellbeing and decision making”.
William Thompson, Head of Consumer Banking NI at Bank of Ireland UK, commented “It’s not always easy to get young people talking about money management and financial literacy, but it’s really important that young people learn about finances and how to manage their money from an early age so they can build good financial habits for the long term.
“The Cinemagic team and panellists showed in a practical way how important financial planning is within the creative industries sector, from just getting started in the industry through to its role in supporting internationally acclaimed local businesses.”
Cinemagic and Bank of Ireland UK will be continuing the initiative in 2025 supported by Arts & Business Northern Ireland’s Investment Programme.
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Press Information: Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press & Marketing Officer, claire@cinemagic.org.uk
028 90 311 900
