Words by Smiley Team
Just over a year ago, health and care improvement charity Healthwatch Essex decided to enter the Charity Film Awards for the £500,000 to £5 million turnover category. Falling into the lower end of that income bracket, their chances of winning were slim. But the film they created was so striking that despite all odds, they achieved the People’s Choice award.
The film that ensured their unlikely win, told the story of a prematurely born baby, Joshua, with an artery blockage that was preventing his blood and oxygen from circulating. Despite the difficulty operating on such tiny arteries, the doctor at The Royal Brompton Hospital successfully resolved the issue and saved Joshua’s life. Six years later, the charity filmed the little boy being reunited with Dr Brabu the health professional to whom he is so grateful.
Remembering the filming process and award ceremony one year on, Joshua said: “It was amazing taking part in the Charity Film Awards. It just felt so special to me. I’d also like to say a big thank you to the NHS because they’ve done amazing hard work saving people’s lives. They are just the best.”
On social media, cabinet ministers, footballers and comedians boosted support for the charity by sharing the film, spreading the word of their work.
“It pulled on my heartstrings a lot,” said the charity’s communication manager, Rachel Horton-Smyth, reflecting on why the film won. “I think there’s probably a lot of people that it resonated with. It also came at a time when there was a swathe of the public wanting to support the NHS, going out onto their doorsteps to clap.”
Charity Film Awards campaign director Madeleine Johnson echoed these sentiments: “The film ticked so many boxes, not just in terms of their messaging, creativity and campaign, but in terms of stealing everybody’s hearts.
“Thanks to the way Joshua, his mum, Dr Babu, Rachel and the charity activated this, the film was by far our most personally engaging entrant last year.”
Healthwatch Essex is an independent charity dedicated to research into and engagement with the quality of healthcare services across the county. It collects data and lived experiences from Essex-based service users. Its findings help develop services further to better fit people’s needs.
Since its launch, the charity has heard from thousands of Essex residents, helping them to gain a clearer picture of how to design healthcare around the interests of practitioners and the public.
This is reaffirmed by Louise McAvoy from Macmillan Cancer Support, who commented: “Healthwatch Essex continues to be a true patient champion. Their dedicated work exploring the lived experience of cancer patients and carers at Colchester has provided a platform to ensure that the voice of people affected by cancer is heard.”
Find more information about Healthwatch Essex at healthwatchessex.org.uk.
If you’re an Essex resident, support their work improving healthcare services by sharing your story here.
