Students at Thorns Collegiate Academy have launched an animated film exploring the spread of misinformation and its impact on young people and their communities.
The project marked the culmination of a year’s work with the Dudley Young Champions programme, delivered with Dudley Council for Voluntary Service. The initiative was supported by funding from the UK Government through the Home Office.
The project brought together a group of students who spent the year examining issues that have a significant impact on young people today, including anxiety, identity and pressures linked to masculinity. As discussions developed, they began exploring how such experiences could leave young people feeling marginalised and more vulnerable to harmful messaging, both online and within their wider communities.
A strand of the project prompted a deeper conversation about how negative narratives, including misinformation, could shape attitudes. Mark Wilson, Prevent Lead for Dudley, recognised that students’ insights aligned with safeguarding concerns for young people under Prevent, the national programme designed to protect young people from radicalising influences.
With guidance from a professional artist and animator, the students planned and produced a short, animated film that illustrated how misinformation spreads and the impact of media. The film was accompanied by an original poem written by the group, which served as its voiceover.
To mark the project’s completion, the Academy hosted a special launch event during Hate Crime Awareness Week. Local leaders, including Cat Eccles MP, representatives from the Home Office and families attended. The film was praised for its clarity and impact.
Guests also heard a keynote from Mark Wilson and representatives from West Midlands police, who emphasised the importance of youth involvement in safeguarding and raising awareness around hate crime.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, in which students discussed the development of the project, the relevance of its themes in education and ways schools could help young people challenge harmful messages. Certificates and vouchers donated by Merry Hill shopping centre and Dudley Council were presented to students in recognition of their work.
Nikki Jones, Principal at Thorns Collegiate Academy, commended the group’s achievement. “This was a truly student driven initiative, and the Academy is incredibly proud of the empathy, creativity and maturity the learners showed throughout. They approached the project with thought and responsibility, creating a film that made complex issues and their impact understandable for other young people. It was inspiring to see them grow in confidence as they shaped a valuable resource that will support a safer and better-informed community.”
