PARENTS are often concerned about what teenagers get up to in the privacy of their bedrooms.
But Morgan Spence's family don't need to worry as the 14-year-old has just made his first film for a major charity, which has been released on the internet.
Morgan, of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, used a basic webcam, laptop and Lego to craft the interactive film in his tiny bedroom cum studio.
The result, Disaster Island, for the British Red Cross, went up live on the humanitarian organisation's website yesterday,.
It forms the centrepiece of the charity's new campaign to help people understand the importance of resilience - the ability to withstand and recover from disasters at home and abroad.
Morgan said: "I developed an interest in making animated films about three years ago but I've been a fan of Lego since I was about four years old.
"This was a great opportunity to combine two of my big interests and do something worthwhile at the same time. I've learned a huge amount in the process and I hope Disaster Island will help others understand the importance of resilience. The terrible flooding in parts of the UK at the moment shows that disasters don't just happen on the other side of the world."
Disaster Island uses Lego to depict scenarios for players to choose where they would like to live, whether a farmer, a city dweller or a fisherman.
The game shows the dangers communities face when not properly prepared. It aims to show how the Red Cross works through its local volunteers and staff with communities to find practical solutions to be ready when crisis strikes.
In reality, this work enables people to better prepare for, withstand and recover from disasters - saving many lives and livelihoods in the process.
Paul Jenkins, Red Cross head of partnership development, said: "Disaster Island highlights the importance of resilience in a simple way. It illustrates the need to work with communities to take action beforehand to make sure that the impact of disasters is drastically reduced.
"Our work to build resilience with communities has been guiding what we do for decades and is now as important as ever."
Morgan, a third year pupil at Johnstone High School, became involved with the Red Cross campaign after hearing his aunt, who works for the organisation, talking about it.
He said: "When I heard the Red Cross was planning to do something with Lego, I was keen to get involved.
"I let them see some of the films I'd done and I was really happy when they said I could help."
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