A GROUP of Worcester apprentices have taken to the stage for the official unveiling of a special film they’ve created for a disability charity.

Employed by local housing and care provider Sanctuary Group, they have been hard at work filming, producing and editing a promotional film for the Worcester Snoezelen. Based in St John’s, the independent charity offers multi-sensory and creative activities for around 350 people from all over the West Midlands, who have a diverse range of needs.

After two months of hard work, the apprentices held a special event, attended by representatives of the charity and Sanctuary, to give the film its debut screening and talk about the opportunity. In 2015, the charity carried out some major refurbishment works to its centre and decided they needed to update their promotional materials to reflect these improvements.

Sarah Poyner, a Sanctuary IS service request advanced apprentice who took part in the project, said: “I am very grateful for having the opportunity to help create the videos for Worcester Snoezelen because it is such a unique and wonderful place. It is a relaxing and fun environment and the staff members care a lot about their jobs. I have really enjoyed working on this project because it is a completely new experience for me and it has been exciting to see the footage come together. Getting involved with it has allowed me to develop friendships and learn new life skills which will benefit me in the future.”

Jane Roberts, Worcester Snoezelen’s chief officer, added: “We were absolutely thrilled to see the hard work and dedication the apprentices at Sanctuary Group had put in to making this film for us and the end result was fantastic. The film itself was great and everyone here at Worcester Snoezelen would like to say a massive thank you to those involved in the project.”

The apprentices, who chose to help out with the project as part Sanctuary’s employee volunteering scheme, were asked to produce some professional visual marketing materials, in the format of photos, videos and a virtual tour. Having visited the charity and developed an understanding of what Snoezelen does, the group generated a story board before spending a week filming some of the key facilities, including the hydrotherapy pool, sensory rooms and soft play area. As well as gaining production and camera skills, the apprentices, who work in roles varying from finance to business support at Sanctuary, were able to try their hand at using complex IT equipment and software to edit the film.

To watch the promotional video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbpVKHPjmT0