Best friends Sammy and Jay have grown up together, navigating the care system, through their humour, resilience, and naive ambitions. They always knew they could rely on each other and express their frustrations through music. When social care decides to split the boys up and place them outside of London for safeguarding reasons, the shock of displacement and dismay at separation sends the two boys on the run, not just from their new homes, but from society itself. Their friendship and shared passion for music is everything – but is it enough to build a new life?
This powerful piece tells the story of children in care, navigating a world of chaos and neglect. Working directly with Hackney care leavers, and those still in the care system, and using original lyrics and beats to narrate their story. RAW GODS is a frank portrayal of young people with the will and tenacity to survive if only the system would help them. RAW GODS’ story, and its chorus, shows how epic, in the Homeric sense, these young people’s lives really are.
Austerity measures have led to higher levels of need, a lack of resources, and an increase in private companies, who exploit a poorly funded care system to provide poor quality housing. For those young people who are at significant risk due to criminal exploitation etc, there is a misguided tendency of the system to place them in children’s homes (rather than foster carers), outside of London, with only enough funding for 1-2 years. This only results in more fragmentation as the draw to return ‘home’ is usually too strong, and they are left with no stable support.
Hartley Lloyd Pack has worked at Hackney Children and Young People’s Services since 2014. His experience working with all key agencies in the care-system – social workers, foster carers, parents, and, most importantly, the young people themselves – has inspired him to create a story that authentically captures the complex realities of life in care. The Raw Gods pilot film was brought to life through workshops with a group of care-experienced young people from Hackney, in collaboration with Fully Focused productions.
Raw Gods has been supported from the very beginning by Strongback, with artistic director Dominique Le Gendre providing crucial guidance in its early stages of development. The project has also been supported by writer Benjamin Zephaniah and actor Jimmy Akingbola.
Aged 14-18? Applications are open for Take Your Place!
Over the week, we'll meet artists and activists, practice public speaking, activism, and storytelling, and get creative. You'll receive £15 a day to cover food and travel —it's going to be wicked.
StrongBack Productions is grateful for the generous gift of one year’s core funding received from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.
Registered Company No 8767837 Registered Charity No 1167818
