Prevention / Youth Engagement / Social Impact
Illegal money lending destroys lives. Most young people don't see it coming. Tapped was made to change that.
THE BRIEF
In 2024, Zoghogg Studios was approached by Fife Voluntary Action and the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit with a clear but challenging brief — create a powerful short film exposing the hidden dangers of illegal money lending, while meaningfully involving young people aged 14–16 in the process from the very beginning.
The film needed to feel authentic, resonate with young audiences and ultimately serve as a prevention tool for use in schools, youth groups and community settings across Scotland.
THE APPROACH
From the outset, this wasn't a standard commission. The young people weren't simply on set as observers — they were part of the creative process, shadowing experienced filmmakers, contributing to storytelling decisions and gaining hands-on experience of professional film production.
David Izatt served as Director, Cinematographer, Writer and Editor — shaping every creative dimension of the film from script to screen. Co-producer Scott Morgan — a former Police Scotland youth film project veteran and ERA co-founder — managed all production logistics, bringing an additional layer of community credibility to the project.
Weekly collaborative editing sessions were built into the production schedule, giving young participants genuine insight into post-production. The reality of professional filmmaking timelines ultimately required the final edit to be completed by David, but the young people's voices and perspectives shaped the story throughout.
THE PARTNERS
Tapped was built on an exceptional foundation of institutional collaboration:
Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit - Fife Voluntary Action - Fife Council - YouthLink Scotland - Kingdom Community Bank - The Touch Trust
THE OUTCOME
Tapped premiered to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline in March 2025. The film is now hosted on the websites of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit and Fife Voluntary Action, and the accompanying educational toolkit is being rolled out across schools throughout Scotland via YouthLink Scotland's national platform.
"Tapped proves that cinematic storytelling and social purpose are not in conflict. A film can be visually powerful and genuinely impactful. It doesn't have to choose."
"TAPPED IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF PREVENTION IN ACTION - GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE, AND VOICE TO CHALLENGE THESE HARMS AND MAKE INFORMED FINANCIAL CHOICES."
- Fiona Richardson, Chief Officer, Trading Standards Scotland“THIS CROSS-PARTNERSHIP PROJECT IS ABOUT EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS AND UNDERSTANDING TO STAY SAFE FINANCIALLY. BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS AND PUTTING YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICES AT THE CENTRE, TAPPED HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY THE DANGERS OF LOAN SHARKS, BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICAL, COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES LIKE CREDIT UNIONS."
- Sofia Dogan, Chief Executive of Kingdom Community BankTHE IMPACT
6 National Partner Organisations
1 Sold-Out Public Premiere at Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, UK
Scotland-Wide Schools Toolkit Now in Active Rollout
5 Local Authorities and Third Sector Organisations Actively Using the Film
1 National Platform - Hosted by YouthLink Scotland
THE TOOLKIT
Tapped doesn't end when the credits roll. The accompanying educational toolkit was developed alongside the film to give teachers, youth workers and community practitioners everything they need to facilitate safe, informed conversations around illegal money lending and financial exploitation.
The toolkit includes workshop plans, discussion guides and digital resources - designed to be used in classrooms, youth groups and community settings across Scotland.
View the Toolkit
Tapped proves that cinematic storytelling and social purpose are not in conflict. A film can be visually powerful and genuinely impactful. It doesn't have to choose.