Over eight months in Dunfermline, a group of twelve young people came together to explore filmmaking and ended up building much more than just films. Sugarcoat was designed to give young people the tools and support to tell their own stories, while developing digital skills, confidence, and a stronger connection to their community.

The project was a joint effort between Youth Space Fife, Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, OnFife, and Fife Council. Through 35 sessions, participants learned the full filmmaking process planning, storyboarding, filming, editing, acting, and even curating their own exhibition. The result was five short films tackling topics that matter to them: mental health, peer pressure, underage vaping, and youth culture.

The exhibition, hosted at Carnegie Library and Galleries, ran for a month and welcomed over 100 people on opening night, but the real impact was in the experience itself. Many of the young people didn’t know each other at the start. By the end, they’d built strong friendships and a sense of shared purpose.

One participant said, “It’s something to look forward to every week instead of just sitting in the house. You’re actually getting out and creating new things.”

The project supports several ambitions from the Plan for Fife: improving educational outcomes, increasing access to cultural opportunities, and involving communities in shaping local services. It also reflects the value of partnership working, with organisations coming together to support young people in a meaningful way.

Measured against national youth work outcomes and wellbeing indicators, participants reported increased confidence, stronger communication skills, and a better understanding of how to support themselves and others.

As one young person put it, “I’ve learned so many skills, and it’s made me excited to do more in the future.”

Take a look at some of the short films that were created through Sugarcoat.