IN THE NEWS...IN THE NEWS..


DERRY TAXI DRIVER/ FIRST RESPONDER SEAN FEATURING IN NEW CAMPAIGN


A Derry taxi driver who helps save lives through his work as a first responder is to feature in a new campaign celebrat- ing


inspirational


people and projects helped by National Lottery funding. Sean Dillon’s story has been viewed thousands of times online after featuring in the National Lot- tery Legend series which has been spe- cially developed in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI). Foyle First Respon- ders used National Lottery funding to train and equip taxi drivers to deliver


first aid or medical assistance in emer- gency


Volunteers


situations. and


drivers such as Sean are often first on the scene of emergen- cies and their in- tervention can save vital minutes and lives before an ambulance arrives. Taxi drivers in Derry were first prompted to act in response to the high incidence of suicide in the city, with drivers like Sean trained to talk to those in distress and carrying throw-lines in their vehicles. The first


responder


scheme built on this initiative. Sean’s story was


Taxi driver Sean Dillon (centre) with film makers at the premiere event


selected by young Derry film maker Ronan Corrigan and his partner Hope Kemp, two gradu- ates of the BFI’s educational pro- grammes which are supported by Nat-


ional Lottery fund- ing. Their film, which fol- lowed Sean during a night’s work in Derry and focuses on tack- ling mental health issues in the city, was premiered at a


special screening at the BFI Southbank, attended by a host of leading industry figures. Ronan said that he is very proud of his home city of Derry but that the succes- sion of late night suicide tragedies prompted him to explore making a film on the subject. “When we met Sean, his story of everyday people


tackling


issues such as the city’s mental health crisis in any way they can was one I thought had to be told,” he said. Jonathan Tuchner, director of National


the Lottery


Promotions Unit, said National Lot- tery legends such as Sean were “ordinary people in our soci- ety who do extra- ordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding”. Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI, said the Foyle First Respon- der film “is a terrific example of how the Academy is helping young people devel- op skills and careers in film and the relat- ed industries whilst shining a light on some of the inspira- tional people who do amazing things in their own commu- nities with National Lottery funding.”


18


JANUARY 2019


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