The Story Symphonies project is built on a simple belief: everyone has a story worth telling.
Working directly with young people, the project creates space to explore personal identity through storytelling and film.
Each participant brings their own experiences, background and perspective. Together, those individual stories become something collective, a shared piece of work that reflects the real richness of the group.
During the main programme, young people come together to make a collective film. It’s a genuinely collaborative process, where every participant shapes what ends up on screen.
The project looks at culture, heritage, personal experience and identity. Participants talk about where they come from, what matters to them, and how they see the world.
The filmmaking is hands-on and skills-based. But what often surprises people is how much they learn about themselves and each other along the way. When every participant contributes their own story to a collective piece of work, the process creates something real, a group of young people who have been seen and heard by each other.
For many, it’s the first time they’ve been invited to tell their own story. And to see it matter.
The benefits are practical and lasting. Young people develop filmmaking skills, learn to work collaboratively, and build the kind of communication and confidence that matters in any future they choose. Positive mental health is woven into how we work, not treated as a separate outcome.
Personal Growth and Empowerment
Immersive workshops and practical training form the foundation of our program. Through the process of making, young people develop self-awareness, confidence and a clearer sense of their own story.
Introduction to film making skills.
Story Symphonies is where skill-building begins. Participants learn the craft of filmmaking, from camera techniques to lighting and composition, alongside the art of structuring and sharing their own narratives. The skills they gain go well beyond film.
Storytelling as a way into self-discovery. A space to explore and understand your own story.
The tools to craft and share a narrative.
A chance to find a voice and use it.
Hands-on filmmaking training builds practical creative and technical abilities.
The work creates space for diverse voices.
Everyone's story is welcome here.
A first taste of storytelling and film
Spark is a creative first step. Using the phones in their pockets, young people learn the basics of filming and interviewing, then turn the camera on themselves and each other.
Guided reflection helps them explore identity, culture and heritage in a way that feels relaxed and safe.
What they leave with: raw footage of their own stories, new filmmaking skills, and a sense that their voice matters.
Good for: a first experience of filmmaking, an enrichment day, or a group trying something new.
Funded places available
Direct booking from £2,500*
Going deeper into story
Develop gives young people time to go further. We bring in professional cameras alongside phones, and build on the first session with deeper reflection on who they are and what shapes them.
Between the two sessions, ideas start to grow.
What they leave with: raw footage, personal reflections, and ideas for their own short film.
Good for: groups who want more than a taster, or schools that have tried Spark and want to build on it.
Funded places available
Direct booking from £4,200*
Making a film together, from first idea to screening
Premiere is our full programme. Over six sessions, young people make a short film as a group. They come up with the idea, film it and edit it themselves, with us guiding them along the way.
A professional editor then gives the film a final polish, ready for a screening and celebration with friends, family and staff.
What they leave with: a finished film they made together, a screening to be proud of, and skills in storytelling, filming and editing. Your school or group can use the film to share the work, too.
Good for: schools and groups who want a lasting project with a real ending.
Funded places available
Direct booking from £9,750*
*Head to the Sky is not VAT registered, so no VAT is charged.
If you’re a state school or youth group, you may be able to take part for free or at a reduced cost.
We have funded places available now, supported through grant funding. Funded places are limited, and we prioritise schools and groups where this kind of opportunity is harder to come by.
Get in touch and we’ll talk through what’s possible for your group.
For independent schools and organisations, prices start from the figures belwow.
Every group is different, so we’ll shape the sessions around your students and send you a clear quote.
If you need equipment hire or a screening venue outside school, we’ll include it in your quote so there are no surprises.
We also run one-off sessions for schools and colleges such as leavers’ film day for whole year group.
Get in touch and we’ll plan it with you
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