Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Charity Sector Video
Project Snapshot:
Campaign: Patient case study video series
Audience: People living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, alongside their families and wider support network
Services: Creative strategy, interview direction, case study filming and post-production
Empowering Acceptance Through Video
Crohn’s and Colitis UK approached Bearded Fellows to refresh its existing library of patient case studies and find a more powerful way to communicate the realities of living with the condition, while providing the information people need to confidently manage it and live fuller lives.
The charity had previously used animation, but had reservations about exploring video due to the sensitive nature of the disease and apprehension around sharing these stories online. The subject matter was deeply personal, and asking people to share their experiences on camera required a careful, considered approach.
Our role was to help the team navigate that challenge, creating a filming process that made interviewees feel comfortable while giving them the space to speak openly and authentically. The result was a series of films that the people featured, the audience, and the charity could all feel proud of.
Real People,
Sensitive Stories
Working with real people on sensitive subjects requires more than a standard interview setup. We worked closely with the Crohn’s & Colitis UK team to understand the needs of the charity, its medical and marketing teams, and the individuals sharing their experiences.
We took an empathetic approach to each interview, using our previous experiences working with sensitive subjects to create an environment where contributors could relax and speak naturally on camera.
Each interviewee was given dedicated time with our team, with half-day filming sessions combining in-depth interviews with footage captured in their own environments. This helped build a richer picture of their lives beyond the condition itself, creating stories that felt personal rather than clinical.
Our interview approach was designed to encourage honesty without pushing contributors beyond their comfort zone, resulting in authentic testimony that reflected the realities of living with a chronic illness, while giving viewers the information and reassurance they needed.
Stories That Matter
This project gave Crohn’s & Colitis UK a more authentic way to communicate the realities of living with the condition, bringing real patient experiences onto screen.
Positive feedback from interviewees and audiences highlighted the honesty and authenticity of the films, demonstrating the value of giving people with lived experience the space to tell their stories in their own words.
Behind the scenes, Bearded Fellows also helped the charity navigate the transition from animation to live-action storytelling, managing the sensitivities of patient stories alongside input from marketing, medical teams and board-level stakeholders. By guiding the team through this change, we helped turn apprehension around live-action storytelling into a confident new way of communicating.
Contact Us
Ready to make some noise with your creative? Let us amplify your brand awareness with captivating storytelling and expertly crafted charity sector videos.
Contact our team to discuss your project.