Hearing Families

Cornwall Partners in Policymaking was commissioned by Cornwall Integrated Care Board to work alongside two families to create a film. The film was made to share their experiences of navigating health and social care services with their sons. Hazel and Bens, and  Jane and Darrens stories were like ones we already knew well. It has been our experience that all too often families have felt isolated, disenfranchised, and unheard at times when they have been at their most vulnerable.

Cornwall Partners in Policymaking believes passionately that story telling is a powerful tool to inspire change. We hope that by sharing this film we can work with more families and the  services they draw upon for support to improve their experiences of health and social care services in Cornwall.

The film was produced by Sky Neal from Satya Films, not only is she a hugely talented filmmaker well respected for telling stories of resistance, human rights, social justice, and empowerment. But she is also a parent with her own lived experience.

The film has been shared with leaders across the health and social care system in Cornwall, and across the south west. We also hosted a screening where we asked those attending to be part of a big conversation about the changes needed so that other families don’t have these sorts of experiences.   At the end of the event we asked people to make a pledge about what they will do to hear families in the future in Ben and Darren’s memory.