Parenthood's Jungle with NSPCC and House of Oddities

Few and far between are the pieces of work that stay with you. Last month, UK children’s charity, NSPCC, launched a new campaign that has been on our minds ever since. The NSPCC work tirelessly everyday to protect children from abuse. But did you know it also supports parents? In a new 60 second spot ‘Not Letting Go,’ featuring iconic actress, T’Nia Miller, the charity explores the heartbreaking realities of parenthood. It’s hard to believe that a life of twists, turns, ups, downs, love and pain can be communicated in a mere minute. I’m still not quite sure how, but seeing is believing. It’s all stitched together with bold animations and a poem that’ll leave you with a lump in your throat.

The spot was a true collaborative endeavour. For this podcast, I was joined in the booth by Jungle Studios’ talented sound designers, Chris Turner and Sean Mahoney, who also lent his musical expertise as composer of this project. Alongside them were director, Sachini Imbuldeniya, and writer/content director, Darren Smith, of House of Oddities, as well as NSPCC’s head of brand and content, Kevin Yeates. 

In this candid conversation, we get to the heart of the campaign. Expect warmth, technical insights, laughter, and buckets of honesty.

DON’T LET GO OF MY HAND, BY DARREN SMITH

Cracked nipples

and cabbage leaves

Can’t laugh without peeing 

You don’t get instructions

For new human beings 

 

Felt tip up the walls

Trying not to swear

Shop in my pyjamas 

But I’m too tired to care 

 

Then the bicycle topples over

And you’re too close to the road!

And what on earth’s aspartame?

And I don’t care how Ravi’s Daddy does it and 

Please just stop crying and 

 

Don’t let go of my hand. 

 

Walk to school on your own

Never stop texting

Is it too late to talk about the whole sex thing? 

 

First blood in your knickers 

First clown’s face of makeup

First bra

First date 

First – oh, thank God – break up 

 

Then you’re gone, out the nest

And you’d think I’d feel blessed 

Who would’ve thought that I’d miss

cleaning up all your mess? 

But the silence you’ve left

Makes me even more stressed

This is a different kind of pain in my chest 

 

Now it’s too long since we spoke and

You don’t laugh at my jokes and 

Your heart is easily broke and

Who even cares about aspartame? 

And I just want to understand and 

 

Please – 

Don’t let go of my hand.