Winner ‘BEST CHARITY FILM’ at the Charity Film Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce that our special film about unpaid carers for We Care Campaign has won Best Charity Film, in it’s category, at the 6th annual Smiley Charity Film Awards. 

Katy Styles (Founder of We Care Campaign) and Natasha Hawthonrnthwaite (Director of ‘The Ones Who Care’)

Our film was up against some top competition, including a short film by award winning British Director Sir Steve Mcqueen. However, it was our film that came out on top with judges saying ‘The Ones Who Care’ was a ‘powerful and emotionally impactful portrait of the vital role of caregivers. It’s authentic and emotional, without being sentimental.’

The 6th annual Smiley Charity Film Awards was held in Leicester Square at the prestigious Odeon Luxe. Director Natasha Hawthornthwaite and We Care head Katy Styles were in attendance to collect the award. 

‘The Ones Who Care’ is a short two minute film created in collaboration between ourselves and poet Carla Mellor who wrote the film in consultation with unpaid carers. The film also features real life unpaid carers from the Wigan Borough, who allowed us to document their daily challenges.  

Of the writing experience Carla said, “It was an absolute honour to be given the opportunity to work with unpaid Carers to understand their experiences and amplify their voices. By really taking the time to listen to and reflect upon their stories, it allowed me to create a narrative that is truly genuine and really immerses the audience in the difficult day to day lives of unpaid Carers.”

This award has brought an end to an incredible twelve months for ‘The Ones Who Care’. Through the impact of our film We Care Campaign has gained thousands of new supporters. The film has also been screened across the nation in many Oxfam stores, in Parliament in front of MPs and broadcast on SKY channel Together TV during Carers Week in 2022. 

Northern Heart co-founder Scott Bradley says ‘This is what we make films for, to help create this kind of impact. We want to partner with campaigns and charities such as We Care because we believe in their cause and we know film can help them.’