Social Impact
Changing lives through film
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Social Impact
Film is our business. Social change is our purpose.
Every project we produce puts money back into training and paid work for people with experience of the criminal justice system, and people with lived experience of mental ill health. It funds stories from communities that rarely get to tell their own.
This runs through prison-based media production, accredited learning programmes and paid trainee roles. People leave with real skills, real production experience, and a route into work that does not usually exist for them.
If ESG goals matter to your organisation, and you want that impact to be real — not a line in a report — get in touch.
You will get content that does its job. You will also be creating opportunities for people routinely locked out of the labour market.
Here’s some of the projects and programmes we’ve delivered over the years.
SASH film production unit
Delivered in partnership with Samaritans, the SASH (Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention) film production unit brings prisoners, prison staff and mental health professionals together to examine what drives emotional distress, self-harm and suicide in custody.
We've been producing films in prisons for over 20 years. This project builds on that experience, using filmmaking and storytelling to build real understanding of mental health inside. Participants learn practical production skills and build confidence, contributing to a series of films made to support prisoners and staff, open up difficult conversations, and help make prisons safer.
It is a clear example of what film can do when the people who have lived the story are the ones telling it.
Production Trainee Scheme
Our Production Trainee Scheme offers paid training and employment opportunities in film production. Trainees are paid the London Living Wage and receive 6–9 months of hands-on training in key production skills, working on live projects including our Mental Health Media Production Unit in prisons and our new venture with Rethink Mental Illness and ThriveLDN.
Ayo says: “It has been an honour to work with a company that uses film production and media training to tackle and bring awareness to such important social issues. I am so grateful for all the new skills I have acquired, and the trust that was put in me as a production assistant.”
Rethink Mental Illness
We employed a Production Trainee to develop, create, shoot and edit content for Rethink Mental Illness' TikTok channel, reaching people with mental illness and challenging the stereotypes that prevail.
Read more about Rethinking mental health social media
It was so successful that we went on to run the scheme again with Rethink Mental Illness, and extended it to a trainee working with ThriveLDN.
Mental Health Media Production Unit
Over 100 people. Over 20 films. Over 7,000 prisoners reached.
Since 2020, the Mental Health Media Production Unit has worked with people in the criminal justice system to produce films exploring mental health and the wellbeing that comes from engaging with film. Delivered at HMP Wandsworth and HMP Isis with a grant from His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, the programme has shown what's possible when people are given the tools to tell their own stories.
Rus, a participant said: “I’ve learnt so much in such a short amount of time working with Owain, Kiz and the Inside Job Productions team. When I look back at where I was just a few months ago, I can’t believe how much I’ve been able to do. I really hope to continue developing my skills in filmmaking and bring it to my community.”
See the difference the Mental Health Media Production Unit made
Downview media
Women re-entering the community after prison face significantly greater barriers to employment than men, with limited access to job opportunities, training and educational programmes.
The Media House at Downview was a scheme designed to give female prisoners skills and experience in film and media making, improving both mental wellbeing and employability. Each participant completed the BTEC National Certificate in Media Production over 20 weeks, with the option to stay on and join the Broadcasting Unit — leading production for the prison's TV channel and creating professionally produced media for prisons across London and the south east.
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Empowering female prisoners through media skills at Downview
Radio Wanno
The Prison Radio project at HMP Wandsworth began in January 2004. Through London Metropolitan University, participants studied the BTEC National Award in Radio, gaining work training and education that supported routes into employment and resettlement.
The course was deliberately designed to be modular, offering each student real choice — empowering in a context where freedom is so often denied. Participants applied for job roles just as they would in a work environment, building experience that translated directly beyond the prison walls.
The Prison Radio Outreach Project worked alongside students to shape personal ambitions for training and employment, while also supporting them with any substance misuse or housing issues, and a partnership with Open Book at Goldsmiths, University of London helped ex-prisoners progress onto degree programmes.
More than 20 years on, Radio Wanno is still going strong — broadcasting vital information, entertainment and support to the prison population 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with much of the content written, presented and produced by prisoners themselves.
Savvy Chavvy
Those in the Gypsy Traveller community often face stigma and prejudice, with perceived barriers to accessing health and social support leaving many vulnerable to poorer outcomes. Research has found that mental illness is significantly higher within the Gypsy and Traveller community, often linked to poverty, social exclusion and stigma.
Savvy Chavvy was a unique social networking site that grew to a membership of over 4,000, helping young Travellers and Gypsies stay in touch with each other. Users were trained in podcasting and video blogging skills, gaining a creative outlet and a platform of their own.
Find out more about the impact of Savvy Chavvy
Young Dads TV
Young fathers are too often distant figures in their children's lives — not by choice, but because of a complex web of challenges and barriers that leave them overlooked and unsupported.
Young Dads TV was the UK's first information service for young dads, created to boost their visibility, confidence and self-esteem. The website and dedicated YouTube channel became invaluable resources for young fathers nationwide.
Animation film workshops in schools
This project delivered a series of film-based workshops in secondary schools across the UK, giving children experiencing mental health problems a creative way to unpack and explore the issues affecting them.
Freeasabird
Freeasabird was a user-led website featuring video content created for and by women leaving custody, offering peer support and guidance on issues including childcare and family life, accommodation, employment and gaining new qualifications.