A film project supporting young refugees and asylum seekers in the Highlands has secured crucial funding to continue for the next three years. Compass Collective’s Film Futures initiative, which began about a year ago, has already produced two short films viewed by more than 600 people in Inverness, Fort William, and Evanton. The charity, awarded £87,717 from the National Lottery Community Fund, aims to promote understanding and tolerance through creative storytelling.
The project works with young people aged 14 to 26 who have fled conflict in countries such as Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Its first initiative in the Highlands focused on a befriending theatre program to address isolation among unaccompanied minors. Building on that, a pilot film project engaged 32 young participants in Inverness and Alness, providing training in writing, acting, directing, filming, and editing short films. Film Futures also helps participants develop employment skills and improve their English.
The funding will allow the initiative to expand into new areas, including Stornoway in Lewis, and continue providing opportunities for young refugees to create short films while learning practical skills. One of the films, Don’t Jump to Conclusions, emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and understanding, reflecting the broader goal of the project to foster empathy and challenge stereotypes.
The initiative not only teaches technical skills but also strengthens mental health and community connections. Participants gain confidence, mentorship opportunities, and a platform to share their own stories. Project coordinators highlight that the young filmmakers have faced forced displacement, interrupted education, and traumatic experiences, and the project provides a supportive space to rebuild identity and social connections.
Despite challenges including anti-asylum seeker protests and concerns about personal safety, Film Futures continues to create spaces of creativity, joy, and support. By empowering young refugees to tell their own stories, the project aims to counter negative stereotypes and foster inclusion in rural Scottish communities.
