Squash the Beef

Total Amount Requested: £45,000

Overview

A film production project in Peckham that foregrounds access to healthy choices and mental health. It will partner with local venues, clinics, and creative studios to provide free, stigma-free wellbeing activities, nutritious meals, quiet spaces, mental health support, and film-skills training. The initiative prioritises homelessness, disability, BAME communities, low/no income, insecure immigration status, care-experienced young people, and LGBTQ+ communities.

What the project will deliver

A collaborative film production program co-created with participants, including writing rooms, on-set production, editing suites, and screening events.

Health access hubs offering weekly nutritious meals, physical activity guidance, stress-management workshops, sleep and appetite education, and confidential mental health support referrals.

Inclusive outreach and rapid support for those experiencing housing precarity, with transport stipends and low-threshold onboarding.

A one-off “Peckham Creative Wellbeing Day” featuring screenings, resource stalls, live Q&As, and taster sessions for health and media careers.

Capacity-building for the organisation: governance reviews, safeguarding, data systems, and funding diversification.

Groups and communities supported

People experiencing homelessness or precarious housing.

Disabled individuals and those with long-term health conditions.

Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities; migrants and those with insecure immigration status.

People with low/no income; care leavers and young people aging out of care.

LGBTQ+ communities; women and non-binary creatives; new entrants to work.

Difference and impact

Improved mental health literacy, reduced isolation, and healthier lifestyle choices through accessible, culturally sensitive programming.

Increased employability in the film sector for marginalised groups via hands-on production experience, mentoring, and portfolio development.

Strengthened community cohesion via shared creative output and public showcases.

Concrete health outcomes: better nutrition, regular activity, and referral pathways to local services.

Data-driven learning: tracking wellbeing measures, attendance, and progression into paid roles or education.

How funding will help

Covers core running costs (staff, venue, equipment, safeguarding, insurance) and subsidises participant access.

Enables delivery of all activities, including prep, shoot days, post-production, and final screenings.

Builds organisation capacity: fundraising, governance, systems for safeguarding, client data, and impact reporting.

Supports the one-off Wellbeing Day and pilot testing of new approaches (peer-led wellbeing mentors, trauma-informed on-set practices).

Creates durable partnerships with health services, housing organisations, cultural institutions, and local businesses.

Why the project will be a success

Co-design with communities ensures relevance and trust; strong local networks enable deep outreach.

Clear impact metrics: participation numbers, mental health referrals, training completions, and subsequent placements.

Sustainable model: blend of public funding, private sponsorship, and in-kind support from local partners.

Replicable framework for other areas to improve health outcomes through film and creative work.