Ruddi is star of charity’s new film production

Huddersfield-based charity Ruddi’s Retreat provides respite for families with children affected by cancer, life-shortening illness and bereavement.

It allows them to have a family holiday together with minimal financial cost.

It runs a static caravan at Primrose Valley in Filey and was set up by Ali Jones, who founded the charity and named it after her son, Ruddi Waterworth-Jones who was diagnosed with cancer when he was six months old.

Ruddi, who appears in the film, recently started school, having endured months of treatment and surgery. The charity is raising money to fund a second caravan for families to use.

A film promoting the work of Ruddi’s Retreat will broadcast on the Community Channel on May 27 at 8pm as part of its Untold Stories series hosted by BBC London’s Alice Bhandhukravi.

The Untold Stories scheme matches small charities with top filmmakers who volunteer their time to create professional films that demonstrate the impact of the charities’ work.

Ruddi’s Retreat is one of 25 charities selected to take part in the eighth series of Media Trust’s Untold Stories scheme supported by Sainsbury’s and Google, which has produced more than 175 films for small charities working in a wide range of areas including disability, race relations, sport, arts and the environment.

The film was directed and produced by award winning documentary filmmaker Peter Gordon.

Ali Jones, who features in the film, said: “To a tiny charity like mine having a professional film made will make a huge difference, enabling us to have a really professional face.

“Our supporters are all excited to see it on Community Channel and to have this opportunity to share our story with a national audience.”

The charity hopes that the video will raise awareness as well as helping them reach a fund-raising target of £50,000 to allow them to provide a second caravan.

Caroline Diehl, chief executive of Media Trust said: “Our Untold Stories initiative really changes lives. We are delighted to have Sainsbury’s as our partner again this year and to welcome Google as an additional partner.

“We know that there is a wealth of fantastic charities like Ruddi’s Retreat and being involved with Untold Stories is a rare opportunity for them to work with a professional filmmaker and get their story heard by an even wider audience on Community Channel.”

Untold Stories is run by Media Trust in partnership with Sainsbury’s and Google to support small charities, amplify their voices and encourage volunteering in the media industry.

Each charity is matched with a top filmmaker to create a short, high quality film at a fraction of the normal cost. Community Channel can be viewed 24 hours a day, on Virgin 233, on Sky 539 and on Freeview 87 from 2am-8am.