A new film, made by local people has been released that reveals big social challenges facing many communities in Greater Manchester.
The film, ‘Made in Bury: Elephant in the Room’, draws on local and diverse voices rarely heard in mainstream media or politics. It explores insecurity, poverty and inequality, and how local people are organising to create system change that will tackle and prevent these issues. The film reflects the work of the Elephants Trail project. Presently working in both Bury and Rochdale, the Elephants Trail creates spaces for local people to explore issues around severe and multiple disadvantage and then produce solutions together with agencies and professionals. These currently include challenges such as homelessness, mental health and community power.
‘Made in Bury: Elephant in the Room’ was made jointly between a community reporting team from the Elephants Trail and video journalists at The Guardian, with support from The Guardian Foundation as part of the Made in Britain series.
Members of the Elephants Trail commented: “We all have that power within us to be able to say: ‘this is not how my story ends’”, said Juliet Eastham. “How amazing to have a group of people with lived experience able to advise those people that really are at the top”, added Melanie Humphreys. “We feel that there is a need to do journalism differently in our communities”, reflected Patrick Tierney “We think that people like us who have experienced severe struggles should have a role in bringing issues in our communities to light.”
John Domokos, video producer at The Guardian said “With Made in Britain, we are trying an experimental and participatory approach to film-making: giving up or sharing control with the people we work with locally”.
