Creating Healthier Habits

The Offshoot Foundation charity have been running regular filmmaking workshops in the town of Thetford, Norfolk. The workshops provide a creative outlet for the local young people who want to try out filmmaking for the first time. 

One community partnership that has flourished as a result has been with Deborah McNaughton, locally known for her healthy food from her café called Mama D’s. As a former special needs teaching assistant and experienced in child Psychology, Debs has not only provided healthy eating options for the young people attending the workshops, but she has been a bedrock of support and inspiration to the charity, young people, and the wider community.

Healthy eating education.

As part of the funding for the workshops, Offshoot put on regular exercise (sometimes breakdancing!) And teach young people about healthy eating habits. The workshop facilitators educate about food groups, what is good for your body and encourage the young people to try out healthy meals at lunchtime provided by Mama D’s. 

Debs explains how the Offshoot Foundation support young people in Thetford “rather than being stuck at home or getting in trouble It gives them something else to focus on, which I think is nice. I have said to Paul I will always try and support the workshops with healthy food. It is great that they have been including time for exercise and healthy eating education. 

I was happy to put a healthy eating plan in place for them, I love it. It is nice to be involved and see fresh faces attend. There was a couple of twins in their last time around. They were hilarious, nice girls, you could see they really benefitted from it. People that we know are coming back to the workshops time after time and it is nice to see and be a part of.”

 

Providing a creative outlet.

Debs explains why the filmmaking workshops are offering something different in the local community “It is not school; it is not home. Its somewhere where young people can get away from things and experience creative filmmaking. Maybe they’re not having a good home life. It could be they are not enjoying school, but they can enjoy themselves, learn new skills and make new friends. 

The workshops offer a more hands on experience than schools. In schools, you would not get access to professional filmmaking equipment or anything like that. The children have access to great cameras and editing facilities with Offshoot. It is a lot more practical, and the young people enjoy it more because it is helping them focus more on what they are doing rather than just sitting in front of a laptop or reading a book. There is one young boy who comes in and he has food and really enjoys the filming. For him, it is big just being there, it is a big achievement for him. Sometimes the small wins are big wins.” 

Debs explains how different young people benefit “it is not always the young ones that are desperate to learn more. You see different people, older teenagers that you would not even expect to come in and do something like that. You would think that they would be out playing football actively with their mates and stuff like that, but then when you see them come in and enjoying themselves and being creative, you see that they love it, it is powerful. I would like to see Offshoot win an award; they really are supporting the local community.”

 

Community support.

Debs and The Offshoot Foundation have continued to support and educate the local youth in the Thetford community. As with communities there are always challenges and those who need more support than others. 

Debs explains how she approaches challenging behaviours. “We connect with the young people because we are very down to earth. We do not really care what you have been up to, we are kind, and we treat everyone the same. If you want to come and talk to us anytime, that is great, we are not there to judge. It is my teaching assistant and special needs teaching background that helps with that. If you want to help and you see us, we will help. That is the sort of person I am. I could work myself into the ground, but I still find that time to help anyone.”  

“One of the last workshops, it was quite funny for Paul as he was with the kids, and they were making smoothies. And it was just the way he was talking to him and laughing and joking with them. The kids loved it. They really enjoyed it. One session we did, we let the kids cook. We did fresh chicken burgers. We had let them prepare the chicken and then I would take it off to the kitchen to finish it. They loved it and really enjoyed it. So, you know it is about getting them involved and providing support and encouragement.”

Looking ahead.

The Offshoot Foundation has seen firsthand the positive impact of hosting regular filmmaking classes in Thetford’s local area. This effort has offered consistent support to young people, allowing them to acquire new skills, build friendships, and connect with like-minded young people. 

Deb plays a crucial role in providing nutritional guidance and support as needed. She emphasizes the Foundation’s impact in the local area “The Offshoot Foundation are an important charity, they deserve to get funding each time for Thetford, it is benefitting the local youth so much.”


“The Offshoot Foundation are an important charity, they deserve to get funding each time for Thetford, it is benefitting the local youth so much.”
Deborah McNaughton
Mama D's

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