09 June 2026
At WithYou, we believe that change happens in many different places, not just inside our services. Not everyone who needs support will walk through our doors, but they might watch a film, listen to a podcast, or find something that makes them feel seen or think differently about reaching out for support.
That's why we're proud to announce our sponsorship of Small Hours, a short animated film that we think has the power to reach people in a way that very few projects do.
What is Small Hours?
Small Hours is a hand-painted animated short film created by artist and animator Oscar Wyndham Lewis. Drawn from lived experience, the film explores themes of drug and alcohol use, recovery, and the importance of support and connection. It asks two questions that sit at the heart of what WithYou does every day: how do we seek help, and how do we support the people we care about?
Made up of almost 5000 individual hand-painted frames, using oil-on-glass animation, Oscar’s work reminds us that this is a story, told in a very human way. And that matters, because art reaches people differently, and often more deeply, than information alone.
The film has already started to make its mark in the festival circuit by winning an award at Chester Animation Festival, and it is currently doing well on the international film festival circuit. Including an official selection at Raindance, which is the UK’s largest independent film festival.
Oscar Wyndham Lewis, Director of Short Hours, says:
“I reached out to WithYou as I have always admired the important work that they do, and my ambition for the film is that it might help someone who watches it to either reach out for help, or reach out to a loved one who might be struggling.
The message I have tried to convey in my film is that the best support is simply to show up, no need for grand gestures or complicated words, being present is the single most powerful act of support we can offer.
Human connection is what ultimately saved me from addiction, and it is how I have tried to help others in my life since getting sober.
Withyou understand this better than most, it’s even in their name! So I could not be happier to have their support for my project. It means the world to me, and it will directly help to increase the reach of the film and its message.”
Why WithYou is sponsoring the film
Our mission is to be there for people that need our support, at every step of their relationship with drugs and alcohol. For us, that also means showing up in the places where people are already having these conversations, even outside of drug and alcohol services.
Small Hours opens doors into those conversations. It tells a story that may resonate with someone who has never been in contact with a service, but sees a sibling, a partner, or themselves in what they see on screen. That kind of recognition and representation can be the first step towards seeking support, or supporting someone else to.
At WithYou, telling the real stories of real people, unapologetically and unashamedly has been at the heart of our work since the very beginning. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor a project rooted in lived experience. These stories break down barriers, reduce stigma, and inspire understanding; it’s a way to give hope.
A Different Kind of Visibility
Sponsoring Small Hours allows us to stand alongside a project that reflects our values: human, honest, and centred on the people who need support most.
We look forward to sharing more as the film makes its way around the world. For more information about Small Hours and Oscar's work, visit oscarwyndhamlewis.com/smallhours or follow them on instagram.com/smallhoursfilm
If you or someone you know needs support with drug or alcohol use, WithYou is here every step of the way. Find your nearest local support at wearewithyou.org.uk/find-support/search-for-local-support, or chat to a trained recovery worker for free, confidential advice and support at wearewithyou.org.uk/find-support/talk-to-a-trained-recovery-worker.
