This film was created in partnership with Hope for the Young to tell a story about the quiet but profound impact of mentorship.

When development began in July, the intention was to explore the charity’s mentoring programme through a wider community lens. However, as public discourse around asylum in the UK became increasingly tense, many volunteers understandably felt hesitant about appearing on camera. That challenge pushed us to rethink the film’s approach and focus on a single story that could authentically represent the programme’s impact.

Through Aatii and her mentor Shy, the film captures a deeply personal journey — from isolation and uncertainty to confidence and ambition.

A key part of the process was creating a calm, supportive environment for two people who had never been filmed before. Building trust was essential; the priority was always that they felt comfortable enough to speak openly and honestly about their experiences.

The result is an intimate portrait of mentorship — not just as a support system, but as a relationship capable of changing the direction of someone’s life.

You can check out more of their amazing charity work here: https://hopefortheyoung.org.uk