A film created by pupils at Woodlands Primary School in Bemerton Heath as part of the Salisbury Bemerton Pride in Place programme has been showcased at i-PLACE, a nationally recognised conference celebrating innovation in creating vibrant and inclusive communities.

 Produced by Stories in Dust in collaboration with Year 4 and Year 5 pupils, the animated film captures young peoples’ experiences and aspirations for the place they call home. Through creative storytelling, the project has provided local children with a platform to share what matters most to them and ensure their voices help shape future investment and improvements in Bemerton Heath.

 The film was featured at i-PLACE 26, the annual conference of the Key Cities Innovation Network. Under the theme of ‘Liveable (and loveable) places’, this year’s event explored how culture, community, belonging and lived experience can help create successful and sustainable places. Hosted by Southampton University, the conference brought together representatives from local government, universities, civic organisations, research institutions and funding bodies from across the country.

 The national recognition highlights the community-led approach being taken through the Pride in Place programme, placing community voices, particularly of young people, at the heart of conversations about the future of Bemerton Heath. Showcasing the film at the conference provided an opportunity to demonstrate how creative engagement can strengthen community participation and help influence long-term regeneration and investment decisions.

 Cllr Helen Belcher, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for regeneration and economic development, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and recognition for everyone involved in this project. The film demonstrates the value of engaging with communities early in the process and ensuring local people have a genuine voice in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods. Having the work showcased at i-PLACE, in front of national leaders and decision-makers, is a testament to the creativity, insight and passion of the young people from Woodlands Primary School.”

 Matthew Kitley, Headteacher at Woodland Primary School, said: “The Stories in the Dust project has been an absolutely brilliant experience for the children at Woodlands Primary School. This wonderful initiative has given our Year 4 and Year 5 pupils a unique opportunity to share their experiences, perspectives and feelings about the community they call home. The children have thoroughly enjoyed being involved in creating a film that celebrates their voices and their connection to Bemerton Heath. It has been fantastic to see their confidence, creativity and pride in their local community develop throughout the project.”

 Anna Harriott from Stories in the Dust, commented: “The young people launched themselves into this project with heart and honesty and were inspired by the opportunity to have their voices heard. It was a privilege to work with them and it’s been incredible to see the impact their film is already having. They should be very proud.

“With Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund as strategic innovation partners, i-PLACE was a broad and varied exploration into how impactful place-based work can be, including what a powerful role the arts can play in creating accessible and meaningful ways for people to share their experiences, have their voices heard and actively shape the places they live.

“During the conference, we heard from brilliant speakers who passionately put communities at the centre of their work, and it was really special to see the film woven into the event as a real, practical example of what this kind of work can look like. Lots of exciting conversations and new connections were sparked, and we look forward to the film being shared even further because of this, celebrating the voices and contributions of the young people who made it.”

 Professor Jane Falkingham CBE, Vice-President (International and Global Engagement) at the University of Southampton and Vice-Chair of the Key Cities Innovation Network, said: “The film project by pupils of Woodlands Primary School is a powerful example of what place innovation looks like in practice. By giving young people a meaningful platform to share their experiences and ideas, it demonstrates how communities can play a central role in shaping the future of their own places.

 “At i-PLACE, we bring together universities, local government, national partners, businesses and communities to share their local knowledge, lived experience and research to create better outcomes for communities. The creativity and insight shown by the pupils through this project serve as a powerful reminder that only by listening to and working alongside communities can we develop more inclusive, resilient and liveable places for everyone.”

 Tom Belshaw, Chair of the Salisbury Bemerton Community Board, added: “Local residents are at the heart of setting our Pride in Place priorities. Listening to children and young people has been an important part of this work. This film, created by pupils from Woodlands Primary School and Stories in the Dust, shows how the arts can help people share their experiences, connect with others, and shape the future of their community.”