A team of four BA (Hons) Graphic Design students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has created a promotional film for Re-engage, a charity that supports lonely older people in the UK, as part of a live brief.
The 90-second animation was made by Lauren Gardner, Neha Goswami, Louis Molyneux and Amie Trill, and will be used by Re-engage to help recruit young volunteers.
The film, Be the Spark, which took four weeks to produce, features Bert, a sad, lonely older man whose life is dramatically transformed after a mysterious ring at his door. Bert, who's spending his birthday alone, finds his ‘guest’ is a spark that lights up his life, transporting him to a Town Hall hosting a Re-engage activity event full of people all celebrating with him, bringing happiness out of the gloom and isolation.
Lauren explains that inspiration for the film came from an older neighbour who's always invited round for Christmas dinner by her family.
“I thought how horrible it must be for him on special occasions when he’s all alone, because he doesn’t really have any family,” she says. “And that’s how we came up with the idea of a spark – a volunteer – transforming his life.
“The overarching aim is to get younger people to volunteer for Re-engage because we just love everything the charity stands for and all the good work it does for so many people who are lonely.
“It was great fun making the film because we are really passionate about the cause.”
Re-engage, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, supports those aged 75 and over who are lonely or isolated. It runs free monthly tea parties throughout the UK as well as activity groups and call befriending services.
The charity’s CEO, Jenny Willott, comments, “It’s a lovely animation from Lauren, Neha, Louis and Amie, which will help us recruit more younger volunteers as we continue the fight to reduce loneliness among older people.
"We are so pleased they thought of our charity and delighted they care so much about the more vulnerable members of our society.”
