Meet Danyele Higgins, at 15 she attended one of the founding workshops back when Offshoot were known as Great Cornard Young Filmmakers. Danyele explains her background and how she got started in filmmaking “I’ve always been a drama kid. It was peak YouTube time, me, and my friends made videos for YouTube. I’m guessing that’s how we ended up being involved with Offshoot filming fun stuff.”
I’ve always been drawn to the behind-the-scenes aspect of filmmaking. The magic that happens when you pull back the curtain and get a glimpse into the processes that make things tick. Now, thanks to experiences like The Offshoot Foundation, I had the chance to look back at every facet of this creative journey. It’s an opportunity to test and learn, to understand how I function as an individual.
Back when I was 15, I wasn’t thinking about it in these terms. But looking back, it allowed me to discover what I love, what I don’t, and the ways in which I thrive. The beauty lies in the diversity of tasks you get to try, letting you say, “I’m not great at this, but I excel at that.” It’s an exploration that shapes who you are.
I’m the kind of person who tends to get fixated on one thing and thinks, “This is my life; this is what I’ll do forever.” I had my “editor” phase for a good two years, convinced that was my path. Then, I entertained the idea of being a camera person, bouncing between these roles. Yet, I always found myself coming back to what was currently fuelling my passion.
Having a stable home life and supportive parents was crucial for me. I realised I was learning valuable soft skills elsewhere, complementing my experiences. In situations where opportunities might be limited, having that third space, that chance to explore beyond home and work (or school for kids), is vital.
The Creative Journey
The Offshoot Foundation provided that third space for me—an environment where creativity, planning, and a taste of responsibility. It was a space where we, as a group of kids, could make a film without the weight of the world on our shoulders. Looking back, it’s astonishing to see what we created and shared with the public.
Maybe not everyone wants to pursue a creative path long-term, but the short-term impact is invaluable. A week of learning, the excitement, and breaking of routine can make a significant difference in shaping your perspective. The Offshoot experience is not just about the destination; it’s about the journey, the discoveries, and the unexpected experiences that lead to personal and creative growth.
After faltering in my A Levels, I pursued a gap year foundation degree, followed by a year of mechanical engineering at university. The extensive lecture hours and lack of hands-on experience prompted me to drop out. Opting for a full-time position at my part-time job, I climbed the ranks, ultimately resulting in a nine-to-five job. This shift provided a more suitable career path at the time.




Digital Marketing
Danyele’s interest in marketing led her into a new career path, she explains “I did an apprenticeship in digital marketing with an agency and then I went to the RSPB as their social media manager. While I was at the RSPB, I got an adult diagnosis of autism and ADHD. When I then look back over the time I was involved in Offshoot, the way that we were taught and the way that I got to learn and actively do things and then looking at why I dropped out of university. It all linked up and made 100% sense.
Now I am the head of social media at the National Trust. I use a lot of the skills that I learned with The Offshoot Foundation quite regularly and I share skills that I learned with Offshoot with my team within in the organisation. It’s still those basic skills of being able to go right, what do you do before you start filming and all the way through to completing an edit. When I left university, I asked myself what am I good at? What do I like? I like marketing. I like being creative. I could do that; I’ve already got these basic level skills to step in and give it a go.
Learning to fail successfully
Danyele’s journey through The Offshoot Foundation and into marketing has led her to discover more about herself and how to take a positive approach to learning and growing in here career, she explains: “I come from a very supportive, lovely family, but some people don’t, and it can be really scary to think that you’ve done something wrong in front of a person who is in a position of power. Even if you know you don’t necessarily think of it that way when it’s a leader and everything like that. So being able to learn to fail successfully and not freak out. I don’t like being bad at things. It’s a useful skill to have to be able to go okay, I need to have my moment. And then I can pick up it and move forward.”

danyele's favourite films...


