Terri-Anne's story
This short film clip is about real-life experiences of a teenage parent in Hertfordshire. The animation was made at the young mum’s project in Waltham Cross. The group wanted to make a short piece of film each to show people that being a young mother was in-fact, extremely difficult. This is Terri-Anne’s story:
Terri-Anne’s mum died when she was 12 years old. She moved from one care home to another where she met her partner, fell in love and fell pregnant at 17. They were both were happy and excited. She was scared because she didn’t have her mother to support her. She was worried how she would cope and didn’t want her child to be unsettled like she was, moving from hostel to hostel. When she had her baby life completely changed. She worries about paying bills and feeding and clothing her child. She wants to go back to do her GCSE’s again if she can.
The young mums group wanted to educate young people who may be at risk of having unprotected sex. They wanted to show other young people the true realities of being a teenage parent and the necessary life changes that result from it. The group also wanted other young people to realise that it is important to have a sound understanding of relationships and contraception, and being confident to say no to sexual activities if they are not ready. The message they wanted to get across was for others to have the full facts of becoming a parent and the difficulties and support required before they make that decision.
For more information about the young mum’s project, click here.