Forget Harry Potter! This season's key film 'premiere' took place in York today (Wednesday, November 21) when young people from the city's Aftercare Support Group launched their hard-hitting film 'Care to Listen?'.

The video, described as 'moving' by many who attended its special preview earlier this year, got the premiere treatment at York City Screen this morning with a screening for council staff and workers from a variety of different agencies.

The video deals with the unique difficulties young people leaving care face in terms of setting out on their own, trying to find a job and making relationships.

Unemployment, homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse are often higher among people who leave care - but Care to Listen? aims to challenge some of the myths about exactly who young care leavers are.

The video was scripted and produced by the youngsters themselves and then professionally finished at the Old Dairy Studios.

York Aftercare Support Group, supported by City of York Council's 16+ Leaving Care Team, was launched in October 1997 for 16 to 24-year-olds to help improve the quality of life of people in care and for those leaving care.

Group member Karl Hesmondhalgh, 22, said, "The video was put together by the support group and has been great to make because it has helped to get a message across about the things we have experienced as care leavers - both good and bad."

Care to Listen?, funded through York's multi-agency child and adolescent mental health strategy, is being used to raise awareness of the specific issues affecting care leavers among councillors, council workers, a variety of agencies and the local community.

Jim Crook, the council's director of community services, said, "The Government has recognised that nationally this group of vulnerable young people has been badly let down for too long.

"The video is a timely reminder that young people are entitled to have views of their own, have a right to be heard and have some influence over the development of policies that affect them."

Councillor Bob Fletcher, the council's executive member for social services, said, "City of York Council has been trying for some time to improve our policies for young people in care and aftercare by including their views wherever possible.

"We have invested in improvements to our care homes and built new homes where we thought it was appropriate. We also have one of the best care and adoption records in the country and have developed ways of supporting youngsters leaving care through a number of helpful initiatives and opportunities."

The council's aftercare initiatives include a supported lodgings scheme which aims to bridge the gap for youngsters leaving care and going out on their own into the world.

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The film is available for sale at £24.99 per copy from York Aftercare Support Group, Hollycroft, Wenlock Terrace, YORK, YO10 4DU or by telephoning/e-mailing Julie Longworth on 01904 555310 julie.longworth@york.gov.uk