Housing chief angered by BBC’s ‘poverty porn’

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Legal, Local Government

The chief executive of an East Midlands-based housing association has invited the BBC’s Panorama team to look at the positive work the organisation is doing in the community after being angered by a recent documentary which “seemed to take a perverse delight in people’s lack of opportunity, capacity and hope”.

Lindsey Williams, chief executive of Futures Housing Group, said the recent Panorama programme ‘Trouble on the estate’, aired earlier this month, gave a “thoroughly bleak view of life in social housing”.

Panorama spent months on the Shadsworth estate – which sits on the outskirts of Blackburn – finding out what it’s like to live and grow up there. Showing residents on the estate grappling with crime, drugs and problems with anti-social behavior, the programme asked – is this really a picture of Broken Britain?

However, Williams said the documentary “failed to explore the reasons for disadvantage, or how it persists across generations”.

Writing in next month's 24housing magazine, she said: “It painted a picture of drugs, worklessness and dysfunctional family relationships, with residents largely depicted as passive victims, apparently cut adrift to fend for themselves.

“The role played by local people in preventing the closure of a swimming pool was featured, but didn’t show the transforming effect of this sort of community action. There was little mention of local agencies’ efforts to make a difference, and the police were portrayed as distant and out of touch.

“I doubt all this is accurate, and this sort of programme does no-one any good. In fact, it’s a missed opportunity to shine some light and compassion onto important issues, and credit the positive work done by partnerships across the country.”

She said Futures Housing Group had an active apprenticeship programme and has created a social enterprise, Futures Greenscape, which offers work to jobless people.

She said: “With NHS Derbyshire County, we’ve also trained health advisors who help people to eat well, give up smoking and exercise more. In Daventry, we have a multi-award-winning Youth Board, a Time Bank for people to exchange skills and a Community Chest Fund to finance local groups. Back in February, our staff used the extra Leap Year Day to give direct to support 12 community projects.

“I’ve invited the Panorama team to come and see this and more for themselves. I hope it persuades them to use their talents more constructively. Communities going through tough times need enriching, educational media attention. It’s what the BBC is for.”