The red rarpet was rolled out for the gala screening of the animated film, "From Oakfiends to Iron Men", at the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology in Liverpool on 17th July. This is a film created by a group of people with learning difficulties from Oakfield, a Day Service in the Anfield area of Liverpool, who wrote, produced and performed in the animation; more than 100 guests cheered and applauded their arrival at the World Premiere.

The adventure film, which sees Dr. Who taking on his arch enemies with the help of the well-known Crosby Beach "Iron Men", was the result of collaboration between the national disability charity, United Response, and the WEA in Liverpool. The film was created through Culture of Arts, a public arts programme run by the WEA to promote Liverpool's diverse community. This programme encouraged participation from groups who may have previously experienced exclusion from society or who may have found it difficult to participate in community art projects.

The film is based on time-travel, from Liverpool's Wellington Dock in 1850 to Anthony Gormley's nationally acclaimed Iron Men at Crosby Beach in 2008. It was the result of enthusiastic and skilled commitment from Tutor Tina Read and a dozen students, five of whom have Downs Syndrome, spread over several months in 2008 and 2009; many other Merseyside bodies provided a variety of practical support. The film was accompanied by a 12-minute documentary explaining how it was made.

Among the audience were Liverpool artists The Singh Twins, pictured here with WEA North West Regional Director Greg Coyne (left) and Culture of Arts Project Manager Alex Whittle.

Culture of Arts Project Manager Alex Whittle said: "This film is an outstanding piece of creative work and a great example of what can be achieved through partnership working.. The WEA already has plans to work with United Response on more projects of this kind in the future, so we hope that this will be the first of many red carpet events!"

United Response is a top 100 charity in England and Wales, providing a range of support and services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or physical disabilities. Veronica Astor, who heads up United Response's work at Oakfield, said "We are really proud of this animation as it demonstrates what great skills people with learning disabilities possess - creative, artistic, and technical. Everyone loved working on it and are all excited about the premiere and sharing the day with our special guests".

Peter Fox and Josephine O'Connor, two of the twelve students from Oakfield commented: "It was fun to do and all of us working together. It was great to see the finished film and today we all felt like film stars".

Greg Coyne, Regional Director of WEA-North West, said: "We are delighted to have been involved in this Community Arts Project, which is focussed on some of the most excluded people in Liverpool. This production of this animated film allowed the Oakfield students significant learning opportunities and experiences, and I am delighted that the WEA was able to show how important it was to engage people in an exciting way that enabled them to widen their horizons; the enthusiastic response of the community to-day at the film screening underlines this".

The generous commitment of local organisations is reflected in the partnership working with Merseytravel, and with the support of the Liverpool Culture Co. and Radio Merseyside. Merseytravel are continuing their sponsorship with the funding of a training film, made by Oakfield users, which is intended to make their railway and bus staff aware of the needs and challenges of those with learning disabilities.

For more information on the Culture of Arts Project, click here or for more information on the WEA North West Region visit their website here.