Welcome to Southend – A short film about Southend and how it is a diverse and welcoming place for all!
Southend-based Filmmakers Blatella Films launch a joint short film initiative with Welcome to the UK and The Poetic Sort tomorrow entitled ‘Welcome to Southend’. Blatella Films reached out to The Poetic Sort group who are based in Southend to see if they would be interested in writing a short piece about Southend and how it can be (and is) a diverse and welcoming place for all.
The poem was written by the group and Welcome to the UK then organised members of their community from a variety of backgrounds to read a line or two each, and three of the poets also appear in the film.
Natalie Scarsbrook from Southend-based film company Blatella Films who produced the film has thanked all contributors to the project, adding:
“A key part of getting this message across for us was not only to have the support from Welcome to the UK but to include the community of Southend. We were thrilled when Essex Police, SAVS, and train operator c2c Rail agreed to be a part of this film, as well as local businesses Sababa and South Street Bar and Coffee.”
When asked why Blatella Films wanted to make the film, she added:
“As a resident of Southend, I’d hate for anyone to feel unwelcome here and the work that Welcome to the UK do to support anyone moving to the area is phenomenal and we wanted to show that as a whole, Southend is a very welcoming community, and everyone can feel safe and loved here.”
Annette Basham one of the poets from The Poetic Sort said:
"We were delighted to collaborate with WTUK and Blatella Films, to deliver a powerful message that Southend celebrates our wonderfully rich and diverse community and does not tolerate negativity towards new people arriving in our city from across the world. The Poetic Sort are an inclusive and diverse group of Southend based writers, with a strong sense of justice and fairness for all and we loved seeing our words read out loud by those who we welcome in our poem!”
Ilda Sinani from Welcome to the UK said:
"This idea was born in a moment when I felt the weight of the national conversation around migrants and refugees, and I worried about how it might make our families feel. I wanted to answer that worry with something gentle and human. This video is our way of showing the truth we see every day: people arriving with courage, working hard, building friendships, raising children, and contributing to this country with such pride.
"I feel humbled watching our members grow and give back in so many different ways. And the support we’ve received from the people of Southend has made this project feel even more special. Their kindness reminds us that community is stronger than fear. Above all, this video is a reminder that every person deserves to feel seen, welcomed and valued.”
The poem was written by the group and Welcome to the UK then organised members of their community from a variety of backgrounds to read a line or two each, and three of the poets also appear in the film.
Natalie Scarsbrook from Southend-based film company Blatella Films who produced the film has thanked all contributors to the project, adding:
“A key part of getting this message across for us was not only to have the support from Welcome to the UK but to include the community of Southend. We were thrilled when Essex Police, SAVS, and train operator c2c Rail agreed to be a part of this film, as well as local businesses Sababa and South Street Bar and Coffee.”
When asked why Blatella Films wanted to make the film, she added:
“As a resident of Southend, I’d hate for anyone to feel unwelcome here and the work that Welcome to the UK do to support anyone moving to the area is phenomenal and we wanted to show that as a whole, Southend is a very welcoming community, and everyone can feel safe and loved here.”
Annette Basham one of the poets from The Poetic Sort said: "We were delighted to collaborate with WTUK and Blatella Films, to deliver a powerful message that Southend celebrates our wonderfully rich and diverse community and does not tolerate negativity towards new people arriving in our city from across the world. The Poetic Sort are an inclusive and diverse group of Southend based writers, with a strong sense of justice and fairness for all and we loved seeing our words read out loud by those who we welcome in our poem!”
Ilda Sinani from Welcome to the UK said:
"This idea was born in a moment when I felt the weight of the national conversation around migrants and refugees, and I worried about how it might make our families feel. I wanted to answer that worry with something gentle and human. This video is our way of showing the truth we see every day: people arriving with courage, working hard, building friendships, raising children, and contributing to this country with such pride.
"I feel humbled watching our members grow and give back in so many different ways. And the support we’ve received from the people of Southend has made this project feel even more special. Their kindness reminds us that community is stronger than fear. Above all, this video is a reminder that every person deserves to feel seen, welcomed and valued.”