Students create powerful film to support Leuchie House
Respite Centre
A
GROUP OF MEDIA and film
featuring a range of Leuchie people –
students has used its creative
guests, carers, staff and volunteers - which
talent to promote one of
would convey what we call ‘the Leuchie
Scotland’s most respected respite
effect,’ the positive impact of a break at
care facilities.
Leuchie, which lasts long after guests
leave.
The 2nd year students created a series
of short promotional films which capture
“The students were great to work with.
the spirit of Leuchie House national respite
They interpreted the brief extremely well
centre in North Berwick for people living
and managed to put everyone they filmed
with long term conditions such as multiple
at ease. The students were professional
sclerosis, Huntington's, Parkinson's,
and very sensitive to the needs of our
cerebral palsy and the effects of stroke.
guests and their carers. They used their
approachable and down to earth manner
The project was part of a media module
very skillfully to encourage people to
‘Working in the Media’ in which groups of
engage in the filming process.”
students work with small local businesses,
social enterprises or charities to develop
The team of four 2nd year film and media
an agreed media product such as a short
students who created the new short film
promotional film, marketing materials or a
were Louise Nicolson, Calum Beveridge,
social media campaign.
Mai Phnong Dang Thi and Rebeka Papp.
The series of films captures interviews
Louise explained: “Our course module
with people who have benefited from a ‘Working in the Media’ presented us with
much needed respite break at Leuchie
a wonderful opportunity to put the skills
House, which is located in an impressive
and knowledge that we are learning on
country house just outside North Berwick.
our degree course into practice on a live
project.
The respite care centre, an independent
charity, offers specialist nursing care
“We totally fell in love with Leuchie House.
facilities for people who are experiencing
It’s such a unique place and it was a real
serious degenerative health conditions.
joy to work with the staff and the clients.
Importantly, it provides a holiday, in a
Meeting and working with the guests was
beautiful part of the country, for people
the best bit. It was great to see the positive
who experience long term health issues
effect that Leuchie House had on people.”
as well as their carers.
Mai Phnong Dang Thi stated: “We
Lorraine Hunter, Marketing and
wanted our film to capture the ‘Leuchie
Communications Officer for Leuchie
effect’ – basically how people benefited
House, explained: “For many people with
from their positive experience of Leuchie
enduring medical conditions, a period
House. The facility really has something
away from home can be a lifeline, but
special and by encouraging the clients
the thought of being away from familiar
to open up and share their stories, it
surroundings for the first time when having
was clear to see how much they had
specific health needs, can be daunting.
been affected by their time at Leuchie.
Despite the challenges that they faced,
“We wanted a series of video clips
14
QMYOU /Creativity & Culture
guests were relaxed, positive and happy.
It took them out of their normal lives and
transported them to a safe beautiful place
where they could re-energise and enjoy
themselves.”
Lorraine Hunter confirmed: “The video
clips will be a very useful addition to
the resources on our website, helping
people understand what Leuchie House
is all about and how a break here could
make a real difference to them. As a
charity, funding a professional video shoot
would be outwith our budget, so we are
extremely grateful to QMU for providing us
with such a useful promotional tool. It’s a
great way to convey real life experiences
of all kinds of aspects of life at Leuchie
House.”
Denny Collie, Lecturer in Creative
Enterprise at QMU, said: “We are very
proud of this student group and the way
they conducted themselves throughout the
project. They were incredibly professional,
handled the project with the sensitivity it
deserved, and showed a real passion for
the project. This passion and care is clearly
demonstrated in the final film.
“We are also pleased that our ‘Working in
the Media’ module is proving to be a such
a hit with local charities, social enterprises
and small businesses in East Lothian and
Edinburgh. It is an excellent way for the
University to engage with community
groups and for our students to gain
hands on practical experience in film and
media and develop their communication
and group work skills whilst building their
work portfolio. It’s a win win situation for
all involved.”
View the Leuchie people interviews at:
http://www.leuchiehouse.org.uk/respite-
breaks/leuchie-people ❒