A DOCUMENTARY starring a group of Coventry’s looked after children which uses poetry to talk about the care system has been nominated for a Bafta.
‘Superkids – Breaking Away from Care’, broadcast on Channel 4 last November, featured the stories of seven youngsters in care in the city.
The powerful programme was aimed at giving the young people a platform to speak about their experiences of an often cruel care system.
The children worked with award-winning writer and performer Lemn Sissay MBE in a series of workshops.
They explored feelings about being in care, shared difficult memories and wrote poems to express them more easily.
It culminated in a performance of their work at the Belgrade Theatre.
Viewers were moved to tears and heaped praise on the young people for sharing their stories.
Superkids has been nominated for the prestigious Bafta TV award in the Specialist Factual category.
Colin Barr creative director for Expectation – who created the documentary – said: “We’re delighted and thrilled that Bafta has recognised the amazing young people in the care of Coventry in this way and it feels like a real testament to the dedication and skill of those who care for them and work with them. The poetry they produced with Lemn was unforgettable.”
Director of Children’s Services John Gregg said: “This nomination is fantastic news and is a testament to the bravery, skill and determination of all of our looked after young people.
“We thought long and hard about whether we should take part in this documentary.
“We wanted to make sure the voice of the child would be heard loud and clear – however uncomfortable the message may be – and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone who helped make it happen.”
In the documentary, one girl’s poem read: “I remember social turning up and taking my brother and not letting me and my sister say bye.
“I remember being told my mum died. I remember being told it was an overdose.
“I remember being a broken 10-year-old. I remember the funeral.
“I remember picking myself up. I remember missing my mum.
“I remember social promising contact with my dad. That never happened.
“I remember being 12 and being told my dad had died.”
The Bafta TV awards ceremony takes place on May 12.
