Film school plan after donation from Prince Harry

A youth centre in Nottingham has revealed plans to open a film school after the Duke of Sussex announced a substantial personal donation.

Prince Harry has been supporting the Community Recording Studio (CRS) since April 2013.

The CRS uses music and sport to mentor young people in St Ann's, a deprived inner-city area that has been notorious for drugs and violent crime.

The charity hopes Prince Harry's financial backing will help it replace the dilapidated old building where it has been operating for more than 30 years.

Prince Harry gave £1.1m of his own money to Children in Need projects in Nottingham that support young people affected by violence.

Announcing that donation during his most recent visit to the CRS in September last year, he said: "Nottingham has my commitment, my respect, and forever a place in my heart."

The studio's founder and chief executive, Trevor Rose, said Prince Harry's personal contribution would make a "huge difference".

"For him to help us out in that way shows what he's recognised and seen over the years," he said.

"He's known us for over 10 years now. So for him to say 'I'm willing to do this' goes a long way."

Mr Rose is now working on how to use the donation to kickstart plans to rebuild the CRS.

He said: "It's very ambitious. All of the things that kids have said they've seen on TV, could be a reality right here in St Ann's, run by the young people, helped by the community for the benefit of our future."

Proposals include a state-of-the-art recording studio and basketball court next to a professional 4G football pitch, and new facilities for acting classes and creative work.

"We're going to evolve into being a film studio, we're going to bring out young actors," added Mr Rose. "So a film school releasing films, and acting classes, I think it's a big step for us."

The CRS already teaches film and video skills, and one recent drama session was led by BAFTA-winning actor and director, Adam Deacon, who played Jay in the films Kidulthood and Adulthood.

Mr Deacon asked the children to improvise scenarios, including arguments about cleaning the house.

There was applause for nine-year-old Eidan, who pointed assertively, and said "mum left you in charge".

"I was trying to make him clean everything up, because I didn't want to do it, and I was too lazy to do it," Eidan said. "I think it's rude."

Mr Deacon said children could suffer from anger issues when they felt they were not being heard, and drama was a way to relieve that frustration.

"There's another way to vent what you're going through, you can do it with an improvisation," he added.

"You can let out steam in a safe way, where you can actually entertain people as well, so it's a win-win."

Mr Rose said the CRS had been contacted by other well-known actors and hoped to involve them in making a major film with young people in St Ann's.

"For me, it's integral that we believe in our young people, we show them ways to evolve, give them something to dream for, something they believe is not possible," he said.

Mr Rose hopes they can mentor more young people who go on to build and run the project.

"This is the future of what CRS is about," he added. "Watch this space."

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