Monkey Haven is celebrating bringing home silver at the prestigious 2022 Charity Film Awards.
A gala ceremony was held at the Odeon Leicester Square last Tuesday (22n March), where the Newport-based attraction picked up silver for the People’s Choice award.
The annual Charity Film Awards is in its 5th year and attracts entries from hundreds of charities, from large organisations such as UNICEF and the British Heart Foundation, to smaller ones like Monkey Haven.
Monkey Haven’s film, The Story of Monkey Haven, is a detailed account of the mission to provide a happy, forever home for rescued animals in need. It’s narrated by Don Walser, Monkey Haven’s founder, and told through the lens of his 19-year-old granddaughter, Ellie Wickes.
Ellie said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won Silver in the People’s Choice Award and we can’t thank you enough for all your love and support in voting for our film.
“Growing up alongside the Monkey Haven has been a real experience for me. Through highs and lows, I have watched my grandad’s dreams turn into reality and followed the journey through 19 years of my life. It has been truly inspiring to witness my grandad’s passion of creating a ‘forever home’ for primates and animals in need, and furthermore my family’s dedication and determination in bringing it all to fruition.
“I felt it was important to create this short film of Monkey Haven’s journey as not only a testimony to years of hard work and commitment, but as a reminder of just how far we’ve come as a charity –providing us with a chance to reflect on our achievements, whilst highlighting the importance of our cause. This is my grandad’s legacy and I have loved sharing it with you all.”
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Don added:
“When Ellie suggested visiting the Island for a day and creating a short film for the Charity Film Awards, I was slightly apprehensive of how we would fit a twenty year story into a five minute film! But she captured the story of Monkey haven beautifully.
“It’s every grandad’s dream to reminisce and tell your life story to your grandchildren, and through Ellie’s creative eye she has enabled me to actually tell my story to everyone. You don’t realise how far you have come until you take time to reflect and I’m enormously proud of our journey and how many animals we have been able to re-home at our sanctuary. A huge thank you to everyone who voted for our film – we are over the moon to have won Silver in this category and we are eternally grateful for your support.”
The Charity Film Awards celebrates the effective use of film by charities to change mindsets and raise awareness of good causes and the work they do. The awards are organised by Smiley Movement CIC, the nonprofit organisation for social and environmental good that is sponsored by the original Smiley™ brand, and aims to drive positive change in the world.
Kelly Wickes, manager of Monkey Haven, said:
“We were extremely proud of our film getting through to the finals but to actually win a Silver Award is amazing and a wonderful achievement for our charity.
“It was such a special evening alongside some incredible charities, celebrating the wonderful work we all do through the power of film. I’m hugely proud of my daughter and my dad for creating this film. It’s a wonderful reflection of decades of hard work, and I would like to particularly thank my amazing team at the Haven who go above and beyond to ensure our animals have the best love and care possible.”
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