preparations this year

from Southwark Life - Winter 2020

the COVID crisis

In the spotlight In the spotlight

Meet one of the standout stars of the recent Council House Britain programme on Channel 4.

Council House Britain, other parts of Southwark are not it’s all about evicting tenants, Channel 4’s well ‘no go’ areas, but places where but we support our residents in received six-part families can thrive and be proud of countless ways and their welfare is documentary, has their community. important to us. put Southwark in the limelight. The series highlights What was it like being Are there any weird or the complexity of housing and on the show? funny filming moments homelessness and the vital work of dedicated council workers from Housing and Pest Control. I found it interesting being on the show and learning about what goes into creating a programme and how that stick out? One memory that sticks out is when we were wrapping up filming Charmain, a Resident Services Officer who supports 600 residents, told us about her time filming for the prime time TV series. content is filmed. I did not realise when you see programmes on television that show someone going into a house, followed by a clip of them inside the property closing and getting ready to walk back to Queens Road, but heard my tenant shouting from the second floor of his block. When we looked up he was entering his flat from What did you most enjoy about taking part in the door, that this is sometimes achieved with one camera rather than two, and involves a lot of the window, and he was shouting to me that he had lost his key for the umpteenth time. I thought the the series? editing. Who knew? camera man had stopped filming, I’ve most enjoyed seeing residents relish the opportunity to take part Why did you take part in but the camera was still rolling. Then I was told that this is the in the programme and have a voice. the Council House Britain opening shot for the series. Just It has been a unique experience. I documentary series? another day in the life of a Resident think it is wonderful that Britain I decided to take part in the Services Officer. will be able to see that Peckham, for example, is not how the public see the area. Viewers will be able to see regular people who are proud of where they live. Peckham and programme to educate Britain and some of our colleagues about what Resident Services Officers do. You’d be surprised at what people actually think our job entails. People think If you missed the series, you can stream all the episodes on www.channel4.com/programmes/ council-house-britain