The first Young Poet Laureate has helped create a short film following three teenagers created using content submitted by graduates of the NCS scheme accompanied by original poetry and music.
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Topic hub: Outdoor Learning
The film Life After Lockdown acts as a manifesto and statement of intent for young people on issues including the Covid-19 lockdown, the meaning of community, the Black Lives Matter movement and climate change.
The content was created using the results of a survey of thousands of young people on what matters to them.
Research found that 75 per cent of young people feel their voice is not heard in society, despite their futures being impacted the most by the pandemic.
The 16 and -17-year-olds surveyed said they are concerned about education (67 per cent), followed by loneliness (42 per cent) and their mental health (33 per cent).
It also cites the NCS’s new slogan “No We Can”.
Ellie who helped inspire the piece, said: “Whilst it’s been hard being stuck in the same house for weeks on end, it’s taught me to be grateful for those around me during these unprecedented times. I hope that we can continue supporting each other, as well as those that are currently doing an amazing job at keeping this country together.”
Femi added: “The work follows a stream of consciousness mirroring the optimism of our youth - hopes and dreams unscathed by outside influences. Submissions from young people were interwoven to highlight their truths, their resilience and an imagination that can envision and create a new tomorrow. They acknowledge the past but are resolute in changing a shared future.”
Life After Lockdown
When the time comes again
to step out freely into the world.
All my friends who held me down,
you’ll be the first I holla at, to link up with.
We’ll be face to face again to say things
we couldn’t say behind a screen.
I’ve made a list of all the places we said we’ll visit.
Let’s see how far our legs take us
to that lake, those woods, all the precious greenery
we said we’ll help protect in our fight for a better climate.
What can faze us? When we’re told no you can’t.
We say no we can. Even when we’re back at school
we’ll have a better time since we spent so many days indoors
becoming our own teachers. Picking up new skills.
Learning more about who we are as individuals,
as siblings, as a family.
From now on, every person in my neighbourhood is my cousin.
Only family stick together through tough times like my community did.
Shout out to those who lived a life locked down
Shout out to the frontliners
Shout out to those who stood for equality
Shout out to those fuelled with hope and joy
And now together, we’re ready to rebuild the world
