Members of the Gwynedd Youth Forum are taking part in a national competition and are looking for your votes.
CUT Films is an opportunity for young people across the UK to produce a short film about the dangers of smoking. The scheme was set up following the death of Deborah Hutton, the former health editor for Vogue magazine, from lung cancer due to smoking.
The competition has been featured on Channel Four’s T4 programmes and has attracted entries from across the UK.
The Gwynedd Youth Forum is made up of young people from all parts of Gwynedd who are interested in issues and services which affect them. The Forum is run by Gwynedd Ni – Gwynedd Council’s information service for children, young people and families.
Elen Roberts, Gwynedd Clust i’r Ifanc coordinator, said: “The idea for a film entitled ‘To stop, don’t start / I roi’r gora, paid cychwyn’ was conceived and developed during Youth Forum sessions, and produced during the Easter holidays. I think that the young people involved really enjoyed making it.
“It gave them the chance to think about some of the health and social issues surrounding smoking, to develop their acting skills and to show their film production abilities. The group was very lucky to have members who are already experienced in making clips for the internet.
“I also believe that taking part in a national competition like this is a real confidence boost for young people.”
The film is silent with background music, and depicts a young girl wrestling with the decision of whether she becomes a smoker like her friends or not.
To view the film and vote for the Gwynedd Youth Forum, visit www.gwynedd-ni.org.uk and choose the 16-25 year category. Or go to cutfilms.org and search for ‘To stop, don’t start’. Voting closes on Thursday, 3 May 2012.
