March 4, 2003
A formerly homeless young man's unnerving ability to express his innermost feelings through his own poetry will be highlighted in a new four part series filmed partly in Glasgow which starts this Sunday (9 March) on BBC 2.
In Tales from The Edge Gerry Dunbar, age 21, tells of how he turned his life around with support from Scottish care charity, Quarriers, after a history of foster homes and sleeping rough. He is one of eight Scottish youngsters on the edge of mainstream society who have been given basic television skills and the chance to make films about their own lives.
Made with help from a production team and camera and editing equipment, his film features The James Shields Project which is managed by Quarriers on behalf of Glasgow City Council and provides bed-sit accommodation for young homeless people age 18 - 25. Gerry also credits AIM, the charity's adult education project for homeless young people, with giving him the confidence to express himself through his writing. Both projects run from 100 Pollockshows Road in Glasgow.
Quarriers employment development worker Steph McBride who works with The James Shields Project and Stopover, said: "Directing his own film with the BBC's support has been an incredible learning experience for Gerry and has given him a genuine voice to express and evaluate his life so far. The film's focus on his poetry reveals what a talented person he is and has given a huge boost to his confidence."
Tales from The Edge will be broadcast on BBC 2 at 10.45pm on Sunday 9, 16, 23 and 30 March.
END
Notes to Editor:
Quarriers is Scotland's third largest care charity, number SC001960. Established in 1871, it provides a wide range of care services for children, families, young people and adults with a disability from around 70 projects at around 100 sites in west-central, south-west and north-east Scotland.
Quarriers has been providing residential and other support services for Glasgow's young homeless people for a number of years through projects such as The James Shields Project and AIM, and has recently secured funding to develop similar projects in North and South Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire and Drumchapel.
Quarriers' James Shields Project at 100 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow provides longer term accommodation for young people age 18 - 25 years and is managed by Quarriers on behalf of Glasgow City Council. The project provides bed-sit accommodation for 37 young people for up to two years. It is anticipated that young people will move from this project into their own tenancy.
Quarriers' Adult Education Project was launched in December 1999, funded by the New Futures Fund and operating out of two of Quarriers' local projects for young homeless people, The James Shields Project and Stopover, in response to the correlation project staff found between homelessness and issues surrounding literacy and numeracy. Relaunched as AIM this year, the project is still funded by the New Futures Fund (Scottish Enterprise).
AIM recognises that informal assessment is key to establishing the true needs of clients and working towards increased literacy. Project staff form an educational partnership with the students to deliver a wide range of educational services, including: learning-style assessments; strengthening core literacy skills; improving reading and listening comprehension; vocabulary building; advanced college preparation; note-taking strategies; basic and advanced spelling and reading programmes; CV guidance, instruction and preparation; and critical writing and thinking development.
With access to a production team and camera and editing equipment, eight Scots age 15 - 21 set out to tell their stories in BBC 2's Tales from The Edge. Some have been sexually or physically abused; another is trying to kick a heroin habit; a formerly homeless young man has found a way of expressing his feelings through poetry; an 18 year old girl is challenging others to accept her facial disfigurement the way she does; two Afghan asylum seekers film their new life in Glasgow, and a profoundly disabled girl shares her dreams. Tales from the Edge brings undiluted tales of despair, hope, fear, wonder, bravery, delight, chaos .... and inspiration.
This information from Shona O'Donnell of The Business, public relations support to Quarriers. For more information please contact: Tel: 0131 718 6022 Fax: 0131 718 6145 Mobile: 07879 842527
More information on Tales from The Edge from:
Roy Templeton
Manager Press and Publicity
Room 1114
BH Glasgow
BBC Scotland
Tel: 0141 338 2786
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice
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