Local children share experiences of temporary accommodation through powerful animated film

A group of children from Plumcroft Primary School have been recognised for helping to create a moving animated film that reveals what life can feel like for young people living in temporary accommodation.

The pupils were presented with prizes and certificates at a special event held this week at Woolwich Town Hall, where council officers thanked them for contributing to the project and sharing their experiences.

The celebration comes five months after the council was highly commended at the London Homelessness Awards for its partnership with social enterprise Creating Ground CIC, which aims to improve the lives of families living in temporary accommodation.

Children's voices brought to life through animation

The six-minute animation, titled Snow Inn Hotel, was developed from a series of drama and storytelling workshops held last summer with pupils from Plumcroft Primary School. The sessions were led by dramatherapist Erene Kaptani and encouraged children to explore what it feels like to live in temporary accommodation from their perspective.

Artist Lucie Vyhnálkova later turned the children's stories into an animated film.

In the animation, the main characters appear as animals — including a polar bear, lion, snake and tigers — and are voiced by the pupils themselves. Many of the children involved have experienced homelessness or temporary accommodation firsthand.

The film highlights several emotional and practical challenges young people face, including feeling responsible for "losing" their homes, having to travel long distances to school, struggling to make new friends, eating takeaway meals every night and living in cold, draughty rooms.

Progress in reducing hotel and B&B placements

The project aligns with the council's progress in reducing the number of families placed in hotel or bed-and-breakfast temporary accommodation.

According to the council, the number fell from 161 families in January 2024 to zero by July 2025.

Councillor Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, said the animation offers an important reminder of why work to address homelessness must prioritise children.

"Temporary accommodation can be extremely challenging for children and families, which is why we worked tirelessly to get those numbers right down," Slattery said.

"This animation is a stark and poignant reminder for us all to continue to put children's needs at the centre of our work to tackle homelessness."

Recognising young changemakers

Laura Marziale said the project showed how powerful children's voices can be in shaping conversations around housing and homelessness.

"The work of the children from Plumcroft Primary School has inspired change in temporary accommodation locally and nationally," she said.

"Too often children are overlooked in policy decisions, yet many carry burdens far beyond their years. This event was about recognising them as changemakers and reminding ourselves to listen more closely and lead with empathy."

Speakers at the event also included representatives from the University of Greenwich, Trust for London and Citizens UK, which have supported Creating Ground's #NoticeUs campaign.

You can watch the Snow Inn Hotel animation online on the Creating Ground website.