National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30–directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films–which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s no script I’d rather be involved with–this was delicate and powerful writing.”
Tagholm added that the PSA took “a new and ballsy approach to highlight the quietness and almost mundane-ness of the symptom. There have been lots of ads here about giant signs, but the writing to me was smart in that these are symptoms that you could easily ignore as they creep up quietly on you. It was a good balance to play with–landing it hard and subtle at the same time.”
CreditsClient NHS England Agency M&C Saatchi UK Matt Lee, executive creative director; Max Lowe, Amy Parkhill, creatives; Dale Chapman, sr. film producer; Richard Storey, head of behavior change; Hannah Thomson, sr. strategist. Production Company Various Films Tom Tagholm, director; Gwilym Gwillim, producer; Michael Choudhury, production manager; Ole Bratt Birkeland, DP. Editorial Stitch Tim Hardy, editor; Maggie McDermott, edit producer. Postproduction ELMTL Studios Alasdair Patrick post producer. Color Grade Black Kite George K, colorist; Jamie McCubbin, color producer. Sound Sine Audio Phil Bolland, sound; Julian Marshall, sound producer. Voiceover Jessica Baglow
The Best Work You May Never See: Street Artist Sarah Bracken Soper Shines A Light On Homelessness In Ireland
A mural that shines a light on the issue of family homelessness in Ireland has been unveiled in Dublin’s Temple Bar. It was created by street artist and activist Sarah Bracken Soper to raise awareness of the work and fundraising efforts of homelessness charity Focus Ireland.
Known for addressing social, cultural and climate justice issues, Soper’s artwork in this case is designed to be thought-provoking and start a conversation around the urgent issue of homelessness in Ireland. Taking inspiration from the fact that family homelessness can often be an unseen issue, the piece features two women locked in an embrace, with one clearly visible while the other appears as a shadow. The figure that is “seen” represents the empathy and generosity of the Irish public while the “unseen” shadow figure embodies the mothers of the thousands of families trapped in hidden homelessness. The creation of the mural coincided with a “sleepout” in Dublin highlighting the homelessness crisis and was featured on Irish news.
At present 14,486 people including 2,099 families and 4,419 children are currently experiencing homelessness in Ireland. Many of these families are based in unsuitable emergency accommodation, where living spaces can be confined to one room. The effects of this crisis are deeply felt all year round, and every day spent without a place to call home takes away a child’s sense of security and belonging.
Explaining why she was drawn to the issue of family homelessness, Sarah said, “I believe that the creation of art is an essential process in our understanding of the world, and a crucial tool for change and recovery. I hope anyone experiencing homelessness today in our society is able to draw some comfort from knowing there are... Read More