Local entrepreneur who teaches filmmaking to ex-addicts hopes to take social business to the next level

A Portsmouth entrepreneurs’ dream of helping former addicts and those struggling with their mental health through the power of film, has taken a step closer after successfully becoming part of the Aster Group social incubator, inc.

Billy Stevenson from Portsmouth set up Film Crew 4U, to introduce filmmaking to people who have been struggling in life, over-coming adversity or suffering from mental health issues. Telling their stories through film helps to provide them with a new direction while empowering them with career options.

Film Crew 4U also works with organisations and treatment centres in the mental health and well-being sectors of the community to tell people’s stories, share messages of hope and make awareness videos while teaching new skills.

Billy said: “After my own battle with alcohol dependency and relocating to a new city after treatment, I was lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. It would have been easy for me to slip back into old ways had I not pursued my interest in filmmaking after my volunteer work at Portsmouth Film Society, enabled me to enrol on a course they were running.

“From there I began to make promotional videos for people. I realised the potential for a business to show others who were struggling in life like I had been, the many avenues they could pursue in a big and exciting industry.”

Applicants from all over the UK applied to be part of the Aster Group inc. programme delivered by the Aster Foundation, a part of the housing association that invests in projects that aims to improve lives by providing opportunities in local communities. Its objective is to develop businesses with a social purpose such as those tackling homelessness, mental health, financial exclusion, unemployment, and the economic recovery from COVID-19.

Billy has now started the inc. 10-month business development programme designed to bring his ideas to market and connect with potential partners and investors. The programme draws on the resources and expertise of Aster Group, and its people, with mentoring and additional guidance being provided by established social entrepreneurs. It is the first scheme of its kind to be created by a housing association in the UK and is now in its second year.

Cam Kinsella, Aster Foundation director, said: “Social innovation, community and collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we created our social incubator, and we are so excited that Film Crew 4U is part of it. By working with our team of experts we hope that Billy will be able to take his business to the next level and make a real difference in our communities, supporting our work around mental health and wellness.”

Billy will  be taking his film making workshops to Aster’s Independent Living Schemes in Hampshire to help reduce the social isolation of people over the age of 55.  

The Aster Foundations Mental Wellness and Resilience programme trains and educates around 2,000 people and businesses per year to help them understand how to improve their own wellbeing and mental health, as well as how to support those around them. Last year the Foundation trained 1,421 people and aims to help at least 20,000 people improve their mental health and wellness by 2030.

For further information about Film Crew 4U, visit,www.filmcrew4u.co.uk