SUGAR SMART Carlisle Video

Carlisle College media students have created a short educational documentary highlighting the effects of sugar, focusing on the issues in Carlisle district. 

This was an independant project students worked on with some support from tutors, Carlisle Partnership and Carlisle City Council. Students carried out interviews with several health professionals including a lead GP/medical director, clinical dental lead, dental students, a nutritionist and the SUGAR SMART Carlisle lead. The video also features a local resident’s personal struggle with Type 2 Diabetes, medication and his story of how he effectively self-managed his condition via exercise and diet.

The project gave the students experience working with external clients and creating a project to a strict deadline. They were put into high stress situations which they handled in a professional manner. They gained lots of information about the amount of sugars we should be eating and what happens when we eat too much sugar.

Comments from students on participation in project:

Grant Lywood

"As a student at Carlisle College, we were informed about an optional external client project which at the time we only knew it as a promotional video about Sugar. Having worked with Emma Dixon previously, with a Carlisle Food Show Promo, I was eager to work on this project because of its real-world work applications and experience which is as close to the industry standard as possible.

Overall, personally, I have gained some much experience working on this project the past couple of months. From fast-paced, quick on your feet, production interviews to long hours of editing post-production. I think working on a project like this that may change public perceptions about sugar makes me feel that I can contribute to society through a creative form.

The project being time sensitive and having close deadlines to meet almost is very beneficial to developing my industry skills, that I couldn't have gained anywhere else. It was the most stressful project I have done, but I learnt so much and gained fantastic feedback making it worth it.                        

Additionally, working with a client on such a relevant and sensitive topic, the impacts of sugar, makes me proud to be a part of the Sugar Smart community/ Campaign even if our video has a small impact."

Alice Dunt

"Personally from this project, I have gained the skills to communicate with an external client, organise and produce a project involving several locations and filming days, experience working with high level equipment and I now have a greater understanding of working in a real world situation."

Hayden Leeks

"The biggest thing I gained from this project was from being at the summit and listening to the facts and figures and how major obesity is in Carlisle and Cumbria and seeing the increase within the ages. This led to an impact in how I choose what I eat and now I'm looking at labels and monitoring my intake of sugars."

Richard Dent

"Personally from this project I feel I have gained more experience by working with professional clients and learning about the effects of sugars."