A film telling the story behind one family’s support for our ground-breaking performing arts centre appeal has made the longlist for an industry award – and we need your votes to get to the next stage.

“Autism, the performing arts, and Jamie” has made the longlist for the Charity Film Awards 2023, with public votes now being taken to help whittle down to a final shortlist.

Votes can be cast online

You will be asked to register an email address with a password of your choosing.

The deadline for votes is mid-January.

This voting phase results in a shortlist being chosen with the winners then picked by an expert judging panel. After the votes close, a second round of public voting will then open for the “People’s Choice” awards. All of the winners will then be announced at a ceremony in March at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, London.

“Autism, the performing arts, and Jamie” revolves around Jamie, 19, and his family and why they are supporting our Let Me Shine Performing Arts Centre appeal, which is seeking £900,000 to support the build of the innovative and bespoke arts centre.

The Guildford-based Lawrence family is backing the appeal as in his time at Prior’s Court, Jamie, who left the family home at the age of 10 to go into care due to his aggressive behaviours associated with his complex needs, has been enabled to experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities through the arts.

Now 19 and living in our Young Adult Provision, Jamie has been involved with recording an “anthem for autism” called Let Me Shine, re-recording the song at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios, and performing on-stage at music festivals with the Prior’s Court Band.

The Lawrence family appeared in the film to raise awareness of the appeal. In the film, they talk about the challenges of having a child/ sibling with such complex needs and why the centre would be so important for Jamie and young people like him.

Our short film “Our impact – Geoff and Shaun’s story” took the silver prize in the People’s Choice award in £20m to £50m turnover category at the 2022 Charity Films Awards. This award was based on the number of votes cast for the film after it was nominated in the awards scheme, with the main award decided by a judging panel.

Find out more about our Let Me Shine Performing Arts Centre appeal.