Unlocking community power to tackle hardship

Local services and community organisations play a vital role in addressing the sheer scale of hardship that exists in our communities, not just immediate material needs, but through providing mutual support, connection and belonging. This film shows how organisations are unlocking community power to tackle hardship.

Everyone should have someone or somewhere to turn to in a crisis. But high levels of hardship in the UK leaves people facing personal crises every day – being unable to afford to feed their family, stay warm, replace a broken appliance or find the help they need. This is where local community organisations and services play a key role. By offering mutual support, building trust, and helping people find connection to other people and to the support they need to get back on their feet.

To highlight this work we filmed with people involved with 4 organisations: People Focused Group in Doncaster, Back on the Map in Sunderland, The Annexe in Hartlepool and Changing Futures Northumbria. These organisations have stories to tell about: - the sheer power of kindness and people helping people - how addressing immediate material needs enables people to be connected to wider support - how local services can be wrapped around individuals - how organisations can work with people to redesign local services.

Whilst Government needs to act to address the root causes of hardship, it must also act to unlock the potential of communities to protect people from hardship.

Watch the series in full on our YouTube channel.

Credits:

Made by Opal Films, Zoe East, Opal Films
Producer: Ryan Heeley (JRF)
Policy advisers: Rachel Casey and Katie Schmuecker (JRF)

With thanks to:
People Focussed Group, Doncaster
The Annexe, Hartlepool
Back on the Map, Sunderland
Changing Futures Northumbria