I was a stranger and you made me welcome – What duck did with the Sony Award you helped us win

Earlier this year we asked you to help us win the Sony Production Awards by voting for That Time, a film we made for the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

The prize was a brand spanking new Sony  FS700 camera. We said that if we won the award we’d sell our old FS700 and donate the money to causes that work with vulnerable young people.

A  massive

THANK YOU

We won!

In the end we split the money three ways.  We gave £500 each to HIV/AIDS Alliance and to Jim Mortram. Of  Jim we asked that he use it to support one of his collaborations with a young person (no other strings attached). We’re huge admirers of Jim’s work and we were super happy to get the chance to invest a very small amount in him.

The bulk of the money (£2500 with gift aid) went to St Chad’s Sanctuary here in Birmingham.  Over the years I’ve had the privilege to get to know some unsung heroes, individuals who lead small groups of like minded people to make profound differences in their communities. Sister Margaret who runs the Sanctuary is one such person.

The Sanctuary provides support for some of  the most vulnerable people in our society: asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants.  I can personally attest the Sanctuary lives by its motto, ‘ I was a stranger and you made me welcome’.

Right now there’s a war on asylum seekers. Even the Labour party seems intent on beating up on those who are most vulnerable. It says a lot about the true nature of this nation. Not nearly as ‘great’ as we’d like to think. Mostly (but not exclusively) we’re run by small minded dickheads for whom the price of power is to be paid by everyone else.

The small amount of money you’ve helped us give to the Sanctuary means that young people will continue to get one of the warmest welcomes in Brum, food and free English lessons.

Once again to those of you who voted and to the judges, thank you.

 

 

Author — duckrabbit

duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.

Discussion (2 Comments)

  1. Stan B. says:

    Congrats (and can’t think of two better causes)!!!

  2. Antonio Jaén says:

    You are also an example in transparency! Congratulations! More awards to come!

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