THEY say that time flies when you are having fun.

Well, ten years after Voice of My Own (VOMO) took its first hesitant steps in front of the cameras, it is still soaring high.

The successful Borders wide youth film project is celebrating its tenth birthday with plenty of past achievements to reflect upon.

To celebrate the milestone, VOMO is inviting past, present and future participants to its Big Birthday Bash on Tuesday, December 2 at the MacArts Centre in Galashiels.

The event will screen a decade of highlights fashioned into one exhilarating montage featuring hundreds of young filmmakers.

There will also be opportunities to see more recent VOMO films in full including All My Friends Are Dead, produced by young people in and around Kelso, three lively shorts created as part of the Eastgate Theatre’s Imaginarium Festival, and another screening of the hard-hitting drama Legally High.

The young people of Wired on Radio Borders will also be there to capture the action for their popular Sunday radio show.

VOMO, part of Scottish Borders Council’s Arts Development, is an empowering film-making project aimed at young people aged between 11 and 25, particularly those at risk of social isolation or exclusion.

VOMO’s combination of creativity and film-making skills enables young people to explore their interests, abilities and issues which are important to them. By giving young people the means to develop their voice it helps them to become more involved in their communities.

Over the past ten years VOMO’s army of young filmmakers have produced an impressive range of films. One of the earliest participants was Adam Stevenson from Kelso, who was 14 when he first stepped in front of a camera as part of the powerful drama Who Cares.

The film was devised by young people through a partnership between Borders Youth Theatre, Young Carers and VOMO in 2004.

It was one of VOMO’s first films and features the lives of two carers and the emotional challenges they face whilst juggling school and friendships.

From his role in Who Cares, Adam went onto take part in many other VOMO projects including the International Youth Media Project in 2007.

This saw him and eleven other young people from the Borders head to Sweden to meet other youngsters with an interest in film-making.

Adam’s most recent involvement with VOMO was his role in Legally High, which was devised by young people in Kelso. The film addresses misconceptions surrounding drugs and is a prime example of how VOMO gives young people a voice to express themselves on issues which affect them.

Adam, who admits to having experienced many challenges whilst growing up, said: “I don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t been introduced to VOMO.

“I want to be a professional actor and I’m now studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I wouldn’t be in this position without VOMO.

“It gives young people like me hope that we can strive to be what we want to be because we know there are people within VOMO to help us. Not just to find a career in the creative industries but for those who go on to work in something completely different too.

“It’s like a second family where you’re listened to and treated as an equal. In my mind, nowhere else is there an organisation like that offered in the Borders.” Adam will return to VOMO once more where he will act as compere for the Birthday Bash event.

“He was one of the obvious choices for the role,” said VOMO Production Co-ordinator Lisa Cowan.

“Adam has regularly participated in VOMO since the beginning; as a young teen right through to his early 20s.

“We’re thrilled he is studying acting and drama at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is an inspiration to other young people to believe in themselves and follow their dreams.” Since 2004, VOMO has collaborated with a huge array of artistic, generic and specialist youth partners across the region.

These include Rowlands in Selkirk, Hawick Youth Centre, Connect Berwickshire, Peebles Youth Club, Earlston Youth Project, the Eastgate Theatre, Cheviot Locality Youth Work, Choose Life, Youth Chex, Borders Young Carers, Penumbra and LGBT to name but a few. From these productive partnerships iconic VOMO films such as Teen Mum, Radgie, Super Ginger and Driving Me Crazy have sprung to life.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, who is a former BBC producer, is an enthusiastic admirer of VOMO’s work.

She said: “I’ve seen last year’s major production of the Talent Show twice and I would happily watch it again. It has a cast of thousands and was shot on location in towns across the Borders.

“It is funny and entertaining while having high production values which is important when you are working in a medium like film.” Over the past decade VOMO’s talented young people have also developed a back catalogue of award winning films including Losing It, Saved to Memory, That’s Not Me and Talent.

Between them they have racked-up recognition at the Camera Zizanio International Children’s Film Festival, the Discovery Film Festival, the Royal Scottish Television Awards and Inspire Awards.

Lewis Teckkam’s Access For All, a film about the difficulties wheelchair users suffer in the countryside, was chosen from hundreds to appear at the Co-op Young Filmmakers Festival in Bradford. Lewis was also nominated by VOMO for a Young Scot Award earlier this year where he was shortlisted for his commitment to the arts.

Young carer Kelly Parish was nominated for a New Talent Award at the Scottish BAFTA Awards in Glasgow for her role in Freeze and intergenerational film Mob Rule was presented to the Scottish Parliament and featured at the Children of Scotland National Conference.

Rooted in the success and achievements of the past ten years, VOMO has ambitious plans going forward.

Its expertise and success in helping young people to express themselves through drama and documentary has been recognised by organisations such as Creative Scotland and the Big Lottery Fund.

Creative Scotland recently announced that VOMO’s application to the Cash Back for Creativity fund was successful. This will enable VOMO to create an exciting web-based TV station for the Borders.

There are plans for a new studio and office in Galashiels where young people can produce a weekly news bulletin and programmes covering issues which they are passionate about. There will also be an opportunity to show new drama and short films as well as VOMO’s impressive archive.

Not so long ago a TV station broadcasting from Galashiels would have been considered unbelievable.

However, recent times have seen a steady reduction in the price of technical equipment and increasingly powerful computers.

It is now possible to vision mix content generated by several cameras simultaneously on a laptop.

This means that the vision mixer operator can select which angle to go to next, as well as adding captions and pre-recorded clips. It’s even possible to film the newsreaders against a green background and then add a virtual 3D studio.

The possibilities are endless where young people can let their imagination run wild.

Young filmmakers will be able to attend Friday afternoon sessions to record their weekly programme which will be streamed on the VOMO website.

There will be opportunities to produce topical programmes, news of forthcoming events and even live coverage will be possible.

Parent Anne Derby added: “I would urge all parents to encourage their teenagers to take part in VOMO’s activities. The effect it had on my son was transformational.

“His school experience was very negative and it’s been wonderful to see the change in him when experiencing a 'can do’ environment.

“The main benefit has been his newly found confidence in his own abilities. As part of his college course he had to arrange meetings with his client and prepare questions for the meeting. I doubt he would have managed all of this to the same degree without his VOMO experience.” BAFTA award winning filmmaker and VOMO Project Manager Robert Sproul-Cran said: “We have been encouraged by the interest and skills shown by the young people of the Borders.

“Some of them want to go on to study media and work in the industry.

“Others would rather use the opportunities to grow in confidence and gain transferable skills to support them in other roles. And of course, the whole operation will be brilliant fun.

“I’m so jealous this kind of opportunity wasn’t available when I was young.” VOMO has also submitted an ambitious funding application to secure greater investment.

If successful this will allow the TV studio to expand into a range of youth arts programming covering dance, music, the visual arts, theatre, digital arts and literature.

“It is a hugely exciting time for VOMO but it will also provide a much needed means of documenting events and showcasing the wealth of talent we have here in the Borders,” added Councillor Davidson.

But first there is a call for young people to get involved.

Mr Sproul-Cran said: “The TV station will launch in the spring and will offer young people so much more than making films and TV programmes - it will be run by young people for young people.

“It will be their TV station offering a bigger range of training and development opportunities. We want to include as many young people as possible starting with creating and fitting out this new station.” VOMO’s Big Birthday Bash on Tuesday, December 2 at the MacArts Centre, Bridge Street, Galashiels, from 7pm until 9.30pm.

Entry is free but attendees are asked to book in advance by emailing: artservice@scotborders.gov.uk, texting 07825 831544 or by phoning 01750 726400 during office hours.

To find out more about VOMO visit the website at www.vomo.org.uk, email Lisa Cowan via lisa.cowan@scotborders.gov.uk or call 01750 726400.