MBE

A dedicated volunteer who decided to make a career out of helping young people break into the film and television industries has been made an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honours list.

It has been an extraordinary year for Dominique Unsworth, 41.

After 20 years of work her community interest company Resource Productions has been listed as one of Creative England's 'top 50' companies - securing funding and support from the industry body Screen Skills and Arts Council England.

Now comes the honour from the Queen.

Dominique, who lives in Buckingham Avenue, Slough and is married to writer Andrew Unsworth, says it all started when she got a job at Slough Museum as a young woman and was invited to undertake an inter-generational film project, recording the memories of Slough residents both young and old.

It tied in beautifully with her volunteer work as a volunteer in her spare time passing on her TV skills to young people.

Her own training with different television companies had proved disappointing - making her feel she was not progressing.

So she decided her to set up her own non-profit making company making films with young people who could 'learn on the job' and go on to get a vital foothold in the industry.

She said: "When we started 20 years ago there were just two people. Then I started taking on apprentices. Now we are a team of eight - half of whom started with me as apprentices."

Many young people who started with her have gone on to careers in the industry.

One of her proteges is Myriam Raja who has just been commissioned by Film 4 to make a feature film.

Dominique, 41, says she was 'shocked and surprised' to learn she had been made an MBE, saying: "These awards have my name on, but are a credit to my amazing team; Amanda, Terry, Siobhan, Lilly, Abhi, Anthony, Ryan and Bobbi. I am so proud to work with such an amazing team, who are as passionate about supporting others and making great art, as I am. Here's to 2020 and another 20 years of Resource Productions."