Bank of Ireland UK and Belfast-based film charity, Cinemagic, have joined forces once more to inspire and educate young people about financial wellbeing through the lens of the screen industries.
Over the last year the partnership has engaged with 120 teenagers in Belfast and Ballymena and the next stop was the North Coast, bringing three local schools together for an innovative, educational outreach morning.
65 pupils from Dominican College Portstewart, Coleraine Grammar School and North Coast Integrated College participated in the initiative and enjoyed workshops and insights with Adam Wilkinson, Film & TV sustainability consultant (NBC Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix), Richard Campbell, CoSTAR Screen Lab Creative Technologist andColeraine actress and puppeteer, Beccy Henderson,best known for performing Deet in Netflix’s Emmy Award winning series ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ and the bespectacled geek ‘Aisling’ in Channel 4’s breakout comedy Derry Girls.
A Q&A delved into how pupils can develop financial wellbeing skills as they enter further education or employment and included a discussion on the vast range of creative industries roles that are on offer to young people. Richard discussed how he researches and develops new ways in which creative art and creative technology is moving forwards and career opportunities in the sector.
The aim of the morning was to offer practical advice in a film industry Sustainability and Location Management workshop and the creative careers panel Q&A highlighted 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 “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 as students begin to think about their future.
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 educational 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.”
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.”
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Press Information: Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press & Marketing Officer
claire@cinemagic.org.uk 028 90 311 900
