Northern Heart Win Charity Award

Northern Heart and We Care Campaign win big at the Smiley Charity Film Awards in London

We are delighted to announce that our special film about unpaid carers for We Care Campaign has won Best Charity Film, in it’s category, at the 6th annual Smiley Charity Film Awards.?

Our film was up against some top competition, including a short film by award winning British Director Sir Steve Mcqueen. However, it was our film that came out on top with judges saying, "The Ones Who Care is a powerful and emotionally impactful portrait of the vital role of caregivers. It’s authentic and emotional."

The 6th annual Smiley Charity Film Awards was held in Leicester Square at the prestigious Odeon Luxe. Director Natasha Hawthornthwaite and We Care Campaign founder Katy Styles were in attendance to collect the award.?

Katy says, "The film has got us in front of so many more people. We've had more carers that are interested in supporting the campaign come forward. What we realised very early on is that we could trust your (Northern Heart Films) instincts for the film. All of us just burst into tears the first time we saw it."

The Ones Who Care is a short two minute film created in collaboration between ourselves and poet Carla Mellor who wrote the film in consultation with unpaid carers. The film also features real life unpaid carers who allowed us to document their daily challenges. ??

Of the writing experience Carla said, “It was an absolute honour to be given the opportunity to work with unpaid Carers to understand their experiences and amplify their voices. By really taking the time to listen to and reflect upon their stories, it allowed me to create a narrative that is truly genuine and really immerses the audience in the difficult day to day lives of unpaid Carers.”

This award has brought an end to an incredible twelve months for The Ones Who Care. Through the impact of our film We Care Campaign has gained many new supporters. The film has also been screened across the nation in Oxfam stores, in Parliament in front of MPs and broadcast on SKY channel Together TV during Carers Week in 2022.?

Northern Heart co-founder Scott Bradley says, "This is what we make films for, to help create this kind of impact. We want to partner with campaigns and charities such as We Care because we believe in their cause. We know film can help change the nation's hearts and minds."?

Creative UK's Female Founders Comes To A Close

Creative UK’s Female Founders has wrapped up it’s final session for the 22/23 cohort and what an incredible journey it has been for Northern Heart’s Co - Founder Natasha Hawthornthwaite. For the past 6 months Natasha and 13 female entrepreneurs have been coached by Erica Wolfe - Murray and learning from leading business women involved in the likes of WaterBear Network and Barcroft Media.

"To be really honest, the scheme came at the right time for me as I was beginning to feel like an imposter and far away from where I wanted to be," said Natasha after the scheme was brought to a close.?

"Being surrounded by other trailblazing women, listening to their stories and feeling their positive energy during the programme has just been incredible."

Though the scheme has reached it’s end Natasha and the team at Northern Heart are very excited about what the future holds.?

"Northern Heart is now much clearer on where we want it to go," Continued Natasha.

The support from Creative UK doesn’t end here as Northern Heart have been awarded a small grant to develop their new business plan and vision for the company. A perfect opportunity for Natasha to put her learning into action.

For more information on Female Founders and other Creative UK schemes visit here

The Seaweed Forager Short Film

During the making of Ocean Greens, 2022, for Quorn and Waterbear Network we met the wonderful seaweed forager Jayson Byles from East Neuk Seaweed, based in Fife, Scotland.?

Since finishing Ocean Greens we've been inspired to continue making films about food, foraging and the impact we have on our climate. It was thanks to Jayson that we first began appreciating the world of foraging and the health benefits of seaweed.

So, last summer we decided to make the long trip up to Fife to create a follow up to Ocean Greens and put Jayson front and centre.?

The Seaweed Forager is a short character portrait exploring some simple steps that you can take to help your local environment through eating and harvesting abundant, sustainable foods. With the cost of living, the climate crisis and food scarcity it does no harm to try and relearn some forgotten skills that our ancestors relied on daily.?

The Seaweed Forager will be available to watch online very soon. If anyone would like to support the launch of the film then please email [email protected]?