What happens when a TV documentary portrays your town or city in a really bad light, supposedly showing a divided community with a hatred and fear of each other? You fight back and show all the positive things about your community!

In the second of our CRCW reflections for March, we hear from Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) Mal Breeze who has been working at the North & East Blackburn Group project for the past four years.

In this reflection, Mal looks at the effect of the Panorama programme :‘White Fright: Divided Britain’ aired on 22 January 2018 and shows us the true story of life in Blackburn. Mal talks about all the positive work the churches and local faith groups have been engaged in and reveals the success of many of  their collaborations: "Together we have held events which have seen people coming together to share food, explore each other’s cultures and discover ways in which we can work together."

"Blackburn is a great place to live and work and in my opinion and many others, the programme was a deliberate exercise in scaremongering, by people who have no idea of life in Blackburn."

Mal continues: "None of this work was reported in the programme, why? because it’s good news!"

To have a look at all the good work and positive relationships that has formed between individuals and groups within the community, read Mal's full reflection here.

If you would like to find out more about Church Related Community Work email the CRCW office or call our main URC switchboard: 020 7916 2020.