New website launched – Big Journeys Untold Stories

Big Journeys Untold Stories is a new website telling the stories of young people who arrived in the UK from war zones such as Afghanistan; who settle here, but then whose future is frightening and uncertain. As minors they’re protected in the UK by law. But when they turn 18, unless they can win a difficult legal appeal, they can be picked up any night, detained and deported back to countries that fill them with fear.

What’s it like being these young people? Is Britain really home to them? Can they ever find a safe future? Is it right that our government welcomes them, and then treats them like criminals because they turn 18?

Filmmaker and writer Sue Clayton has worked with these young people for many years. Big Journeys Untold Stories will tell their stories in stills, film and prose.

This archive site is supported in its pilot phase by Counterpoints Arts www.counterpointsarts.org.uk with funding from Creativeworks London.

Counterpoints Arts and Sue Clayton, Royal Holloway University of London were awarded a Creativeworks London Creative Voucher award during round 5.

Photo: Marcia Chandra