When director Rosie Baldwin set out to make a film about a band with disabilities defying stereotypes, she never anticipated what it would turn into.

Delta 7 are a post-punk band who formed seven years ago after completing a music course run by Culture Shift, an organisation which supports a variety of groups across Sussex through creativity.

The seven-piece band is made up of members from Eastbourne and Brighton who all have different disabilities.

Emerging director Rosie was inspired by the group’s success and decided to make a documentary about them.

The 29-year-old from Bognor said: “I had already won a pitch in 2016 to make a short film called We Rise about Delta 7 through Picturehouse cinemas, but it was only three minutes long.

“We thought it would be great to make a longer film about these guys, to show how they defy any stereotypes people might put on them, and their quirky personalities.

“But obviously it turned into something much sadder.”

Two months after Rosie started making her film, the band’s good friend and music mentor, Tom Salway, took his own life at the age of 24.

Rosie said that everyone who knew Tom, including the band and staff at Culture Shift, was devastated.

She said: “I had only known Tom for six months but he had this amazing capacity to make you feel instantly welcome, like you had known him for much longer.

“When I heard the news my initial feeling was that we wouldn’t continue filming as it just seemed like way too much to handle and disrespectful even.

“But after the funeral I was speaking to Julia [Roberts] from Culture Shift about it, and she said it could be a rare opportunity to document a very immediate reaction to grief, and a good way to honour Tom.

“It’s not a film I ever wanted to make, but it happened in front of me.

“I found Tom really inspiring and decided it would be good to show someone who was super cool and talented working in community arts, making a difference.”

Rosie said making the film became a kind of coping mechanism for herself and everyone involved and it opened her eyes to the healing power of creativity – especially music.

She said: “It’s been a real privilege watching the band and seeing them grow as musicians and to see how this group of people who have had something awful happen to them, really come together through music.

“If you’re neurodiverse you communicate in different ways and it was great to see how they worked to create something that was theirs and what they wanted to say.

“Music hits you on a deeper level. It can be a tool.”

Rosie’s full-length documentary, titled Delta 7even, has already won various awards and was set to be screened at festivals this summer, but plans have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A 20-minute version of the film which was recently released on Vice TV has had almost one million views.

Director at Culture Shift Julia Roberts, who also features in the film, said: “The film is actually quite positive and life affirming and it shows how resilient people can be.

“The band’s music has this positivity and energy about it that people really love and they are getting so much attention at the moment because of the shorter film on Vice Media.

“I’m dying for it to hit a million views. It’s exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

Band member Mikey Reynolds said: “It’s so amazing to see the numbers going up in India, Australia, all over the world.

“It’s a sad thing that happened but I hope it will help other people to talk about their feelings. It’s like a wake-up call.”

Another member of the band, Fraser Caygill, said: “Thank you very much for all your support and fantastic feedback on the Delta 7even film.

“I hope it can help people relate to how bad people can feel when they’ve sunk really deeply into depression.”

Tom Salway’s mum Linda said: “This film is a wonderful piece of work which shows the power of creativity and community pulling together when tragedy strikes from nowhere.

“Delta 7 and their families have been with me throughout and their kindness, thoughtfulness and love for Tom shines through in this beautiful piece.

“It shows my son for the wonderful, warm, vibrant young man he was and Delta 7 for the force they are.”

To watch the film, visit cultureshift.org.uk/delta7 and follow the link.

A JustGiving page has also been set up to support the band. To donate, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/delta7forever.