Pulled Both Ways

Background to the Pulled Both Ways Project

The founder of The Alternative Divorce Company, Dr Glynis and local Charity Soft Touch Arts created Pulled Both Ways, a ground-breaking film project, to raise awareness of the urgent need to protect children from conflict in divorce and breakup.

The project has won awards for its innovative approach to this challenging issue which touches on so many children’s lives.

Dr Glynis and film-makers from Soft Touch Arts have worked with a number of local schools since 2017 engaging students in the process of scripting, directing, filming and acting in the films highlighting the emotional effects of breakup on children when parents become embittered and hostile.

Two sets of films were made by young people in 2017 and 2018 all from the child’s perspective. In 2023, students interviewed adults who had gone through divorce and breakup and were willing to talk openly about their experiences and their reflections on how they had handled the process. The adults were then represented by actors in the films in order to protect their identity and their children’s identity. Nonetheless, the stories are hugely powerful. The parents were often so caught up in their own emotional trauma they were not able to focus on their children who were literally being “pulled both ways.”

The original project idea came about in response to the stark statistics around divorce and the negative impact on children where there was hostility between the parents. Dr Glynis had become increasingly concerned about these issues in her casework as a divorce lawyer. She teamed up with Charity Soft Touch Arts because of their extensive experience of working with young people around social issues impacting on young people, many of whom had their own difficult lived experience of family divorce.

So far the project (which is ongoing) has created 8 powerful and thought-provoking short films. As well as giving children and young people the opportunity to have their stories and voices heard and to help others in their situation, the project gave young people new filmmaking and communication skills and something they could be truly proud of.

Film Project Pulled Both Ways – from Glynis Wright & Co Family Solicitors in partnership with Soft Touch Arts.

Oadby Beauchamp College – The Stories of Felix, Vanessa, Peter and Jane – real life interviews by students. Stories recounted by actors for confidentiality purposes.

Felix

Vanessa

Peter

Jane

Leicester Mercury – Leicester pupils share experiences of divorce to help children facing similar heartache