Film tackles thorny issues

THE Mayor of Oldham with Anisha Islam, the youngest cast member and the face of the project

THE Mayor of Oldham with Anisha Islam, the youngest cast member and the face of the project

Thousands of copies of an Oldham-made DVD could soon be helping teachers and parents tackle school and family issues.

The DVD, “Our Future, it’s in Your Hands” was launched at Grange Arts Centre and viewed by more than 100 people.

It tells five short stories on school and parenting issues including attendance, truancy, homework, smoking, discipline and also touches on forced marriages.

The project has been recorded in Bangla with English subtitles and has the potential to be dubbed in other languages.

It began after a GCSE drama group at Grange School produced a short clip on the importance of homework for parents.

Moinul Islam, Zahoor Hussain and Murad Chowdhury who all work at Grange School, realised that it was the best way to get messages into the community that doesn’t read or write in English or their mother tongue.

In 2007 the trio developed their idea and formed the Our Future Steering Group.

The project has been supported and funded by the National Lotteries Awards for All, Grange School and the Grange Kabaddi Group.

Although the Our Future Steering Group has no further funds they are still aiming to mass produce 5,000 copies for the community and other educational establishments, as well as an airing on TV.

The DVD’s premiere was watched the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, teachers and other professionals and non-professionals working in Oldham schools and in the community.

Moinul Islam said: “The response and feedback was overwhelming. The general feel was that it needs to go out into the wider community, even if it means dubbing it in other languages.”

Any organisations or businesses who would like to fund the remaining aims of the project can contact Moinul Islam on 01616522428 or 07713 647494.