Sustainable Regeneration - The Salford Legacy
The biggest car thief in the area participated as a victim of car crime on the 'Wrecked' project – resulting in him gaining employment in Sainsbury’s and the community viewing this young man in a very different positive light.
During the project 'Gas and Air' in October 2003 it was recognised that sustaining the work in the area meant setting up a community arts organisation run by residents. This organisation – REEL Salford has been successfully running since 2004 delivering high quality community arts projects and is run by enthusiastic and committed adults who participated in the original films.
Many of the women who participated on the projects had not previously worked for many years - feeling stuck in the “benefits trap”. These projects enabled them to see a future for themselves and have changed their lives. For example one member of REEL Salford has gained employment as a Youth Worker in Salford ; three other members have gained employment with REELmcr and one member (who had never acted before) also secured the lead role in a play at Manchester’s Contact theatre.
The third film – 'Madhouse' headlined the Salford Film Festival in 2004 to a large community / local business audience.
Seedley and Langworthy are predominately white areas and REELmcr introduced black workers and a black writer to work with the community. In addition the groups rehearsed in the Zion Arts Centre in Hulme – a black arts space where engagement with other groups is encouraged. As a result participants in these projects have grown, they have been to places and met people they would never have had the opportunity to before.
Before the commencement of these projects, Seedley and Langworthy, Charlestown and Lower Kersal were very separate communities. As a direct result of the inclusive process and nature of the projects in each case, workers, participants and communities have integrated with each other and with what might previously have been considered “outsiders”. Those who initially worked close to home, have developed confidence and skills which has resulted in them working much further afield. The community been able and ready to accept previously considered “outsiders” and have positively welcomed cross working recognising the benefits for themselves. Participants in projects have gone on to work and interact further afield – broadening skills, horizons, learning and social tolerance, acceptance and cohesion.
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