YJB RESOURCE HUB CASE STUDY

Our Work in Action: Featured on the Youth Justice Board Resource Hub

In a landmark partnership with Derby Youth Justice Service, we collaborated with their staff and a cohort of local young people to create a powerful, authentic film addressing the specific issues impacting their community.

This co-production process didn’t just result in a film; it empowered young people, gave them a voice, and provided Derby’s practitioners with a deeply relevant tool for engagement.

We are proud that this piece of work was recognised for its quality and impact, and is now featured on the Youth Justice Board’s national Resource Hub, making it accessible to youth justice services across England and Wales.

Working with REAL DIRECTION allowed us to create something that truly resonated with our young people because they were part of the process from day one. Having our work showcased on the YJB Hub is a validation of this collaborative approach and has given our entire service a huge boost.”

Derby Youth Justice Service

Learn About Partnership Productions

CASE STUDY

Not my Son

Not My Son is a powerful, parent-focused film created in partnership with the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership. It explores the often unseen signs and realities that young people may be navigating, told through the perspective of a parent coming to terms with what’s happening around them.

Grounded in lived experience, the film highlights how easily warning signs can be missed at home and how quickly situations can escalate without awareness or support. It’s designed to spark honest conversations, helping parents and carers recognise risk, reflect on their role, and feel more confident in taking action. More than just a film, it acts as a practical tool to strengthen communication between professionals and families, supporting earlier intervention and more effective safeguarding.

CASE STUDY

Vivid Lines

Vivid Lines is a hard-hitting in-house production from Real Direction, delivered as a five-part series that explores the pressures young people face across mental health, online safety, peer influence, and unhealthy relationships. Set within a realistic and relatable world, each episode shows how quickly situations can escalate when young people are navigating identity, social media, and the need to fit in.

Through layered storytelling, Vivid Lines highlights the emotional and psychological impact of these experiences, encouraging reflection and open discussion. It also includes a critical life-saving moment, demonstrating how to respond in an emergency, including how to control bleeding and potentially save a life.

Built as both an engaging narrative and a practical learning tool, Vivid Lines supports professionals in delivering meaningful conversations that help safeguard and empower young people.

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

Behind the Scenes

At Real Direction, we create impactful, story-driven content that tackles the real issues affecting young people today. Our work is grounded in lived experience, designed to reflect the realities young people face and support those working to guide and safeguard them.

Our approach is hands-on and collaborative. We work directly with young people from the outset, building genuine relationships and creating safe spaces where they can speak openly about their experiences. Through group workshops and guided discussions, we explore key themes together, ensuring every piece of content is shaped by real voices, real choices, and real consequences.

From concept and script development through to casting, location scouting, and full-scale production, we manage every stage of the process with purpose. Young people are not just involved, they play an active role in shaping the narrative, influencing direction, and bringing authenticity to the final outcome. This builds confidence, ownership, and ensures the work connects on a deeper level.

TESTIMONIALS

Real People, Real Reviews

"I was stunned at how real the film was to my own life."

"Luke's story gave the whole film credibility – I could relate to everything."

"Knowing these are real experiences like mine gave me the confidence that I can change and have new chances."

"It made me believe in myself."

"It gave me a new perspective on a situation I've been in that I hadn't thought about before."

This innovative platform has proven to be an invaluable resource, offering immersive, engaging sessions on real-life topics that resonate deeply with our students. Whether addressing healthy relationships, social responsibility, or knife crime, Real Direction Online delivers content that is both relevant and impactful. We've successfully used the platform in a variety of settings across the school, including whole school assemblies, where it has sparked meaningful conversations and collective reflection; 1:1 support sessions, providing tailored guidance and a safe space for students to explore personal challenges; and small group interventions, where students benefit from shared experiences and peer support. The flexibility and depth of the Real Direction Online platform have allowed us to enhance our pastoral care and enrich our PSHE curriculum. It has become a trusted tool in our mission to support the holistic development of every student. This platform offers incredible value for money for any school and I would highly recommend other schools getting themselves access to the portal.”

Adam Duckers, North Birmingham Academy

Real Direction's videos are refreshing as you can tell they have been made by those with direct lived experience of the issues explored, and not just by professionals theorising about what it's like to live through these things. The way they depict themes such as child criminal exploitation, county lines and peer pressure feel very intentional and show the realities of these issues, and how they affect children and young people. The messages communicated through the videos are a welcome respite from depictions of the same issues in film, TV and on social media which often wrongly glamourise certain themes, while claiming to be raising awareness. This glamourisation can be counter-productive in terms of keeping children and young people safe in the community, so it's great that resources like Real Direction exist to counteract these narratives.”

Barney Whittaker, Youth Engagement Co-ordinator, Lambeth

Since introducing Real Direction into our tutorial sessions, we have found that the films and storylines engage both learners and tutors effectively, sparking interactive and meaningful discussions in group tutorials and one-to-one sessions. The content supports our personal development curriculum exceptionally well and feels highly relevant to the lives of today's young people and the wider world they are preparing to enter. It has helped us create more impactful sessions that encourage reflection, discussion, and real-life application. We would highly recommend that other colleges explore using these resources to enhance their personal development provision.”

Laura Slavin, Kirklees College