A GROUP of youngsters have created an educational film to help support other young people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Members of Out Of The Can Plus spent three months putting together the film called Like A Person, featuring their real experiences being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Joanna Roberts, youth worker for the group which meets weekly in Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett, said: “I’m so proud of all the young people and what they’ve achieved doing this.

“It’s really brave of them to put themselves out there to change people views, and to do this at such a young age says a lot about their strength.”

Members of the 40-strong youth group for those aged 13-19 were responsible for developing the script as well as directing and acting in the film, which was produced with the help of Create Studios.

Funded by Swindon Borough Council, the video is a visual way to showcase the group's 10 principles for showing respect and inclusivity to the LGBTQ+ community.

Jo added: “It was completely based on the young people’s real life experiences, including moments of support where, for example, a family member acknowledges someone’s transitioning, as well as moments of more micro inequalities.

"It’s about the challenges these young people have faced as well as how other people can challenge this and show support.”

She added: “We want to reach out to other LGBTQ+ young people who might watch it and say you’re not alone.”

Jo said the aim of the film was to encourage people to stick up for their LGBTQ+ friends as well as show other youth practitioners that small acts of acknowledgement make a big difference to the young people.

“We need more young people to have a safe space to question or express their gender or sexuality in whatever way, to make life easier for them in the future and to have that community of like-minded friends and people around them,” Jo added.

Cole Goddard, 17, who attends the group and took part in making the film, said: “I’ve shown my parents and my mum nearly cried. They both smiled at me when they saw me on the screen with my name. So this whole experience was very monumental for my family as well.

“I’m glad we’ve already positively effected so many.”